Public Safety

Last updated or reviewed on March 26, 2026

Private property events must be planned and operated with attention to life safety, emergency response, crowd management, emergency access, fire prevention, and site security. This page explains the public safety expectations that may affect event planning, permit review, approval conditions, and on-site operations.

Safety Planning Overview

You are responsible for providing a safe and secure environment for participants, staff, vendors, and the public. Depending on your event’s size, layout, activities, and site conditions, you may need to address emergency planning, medical support, law enforcement, crowd management, traffic control, fire prevention, and safety of temporary structures as part of the review process.

Emergency Action Plans

Every event must include an Emergency Action Plan. This plan identifies potential emergency conditions at the event site and outlines procedures for notification, warning, evacuation, and response. It should also define how you will coordinate with responsible municipal, county, and state officials in the event of an emergency, including severe weather or other catastrophic conditions.

Medical and Emergency Access

The Asheville Fire Department has final authority to determine medical and fire emergency support requirements based on review of your Emergency Action Plan. That may include requiring licensed medical providers, Advanced Life Support, Basic Life Support, volunteers, staff positions, or other Fire Department support needed for the event. You are responsible for ensuring that all medical support personnel, whether paid or volunteer, have the required licensing, certifications, and insurance, and that personnel and equipment are positioned where and when required.

EMS Thresholds and Special Conditions

Events under 2,500 in attendance, or under 250 for athletic events in non-fixed locations, generally will not be required to have on-site EMS services. Even so, alcohol service, large event boundaries, or specific activities may still affect the level of medical support required. If Advanced Life Support transport is needed at the event, the medical service provider must use Buncombe County Emergency Services. Final EMS requirements are determined after review of your Emergency Action Plan.

Law Enforcement and Security

The Asheville Police Department reviews each application for law enforcement requirements, professional security recommendations, crowd control and pedestrian safety devices, and any traffic control support or flaggers that may be needed. If your event receives conditional approval, you will be notified of any law enforcement requirements and given instructions on how to submit requests through RollKall. A request through RollKall does not guarantee shifts will be filled, so you remain responsible for confirming that all required law enforcement and security needs are met.

Crowd Managers

If your event has 1,000 or more people in attendance at any given time, you must provide a crowd manager for every 250 people. Law enforcement and medical personnel hired for the event may count toward that total. Based on peak attendance, you must provide the appropriate number of Crowd Manager certificates to the Office of Special Events in print or electronic format.

Site Plans as Safety Documents

Your site plan is also a safety document. It must identify the location of all temporary site additions in relation to the property’s existing infrastructure and should clearly show fire lanes, fire hydrants, fire department connections, driveway access, and all points of egress from buildings. It should also show fencing, barricades, tents, stages, scaffolding, inflatables, platforms, bleachers, dumpsters, portable restrooms, generators, light towers, open flame activity, fire performance areas, and mobile vending units.

Temporary Structures, Tents, and Seating Layouts

Public safety review includes the placement of temporary structures such as tents, canopies, shelters, platforms, stages, scaffolding, light towers, and inflatables, including how those elements relate to mobile vending units and surrounding site conditions. If you provide more than 200 chairs, the seating layout must follow the required spacing and aisle standards, including tied seating groups, maximum row counts, row spacing, and aisle widths.

Fire and Safety-Sensitive Activities

Some event features trigger additional fire and safety review. These can include open-flame activities, portable grills, candlelit displays, vigils, propane heaters, fire performances, fire demonstrations, fireworks, and pyrotechnics. Identify these activities early so the correct permits can be submitted and so separation distances, extinguishing equipment, and staffing needs can be reviewed in time.

Sound and Community Safety Impacts

If your event exceeds sound limits and typically affects nearby residential neighbors, you may need a Sound Exceedance Permit. These permits cannot be issued for residential or industrial districts. You may also be asked to address neighborhood or business impacts through mitigation measures such as outreach, advance notice, or meetings with affected groups. Transportation planning should address safe arrival and departure, including ADA access and parking capacity.

Safety Forms and Resources

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