Virginia Law

A. The Governor will have priority over use of Capitol Square.

B. The department may not issue permits for any event in Capitol Square coinciding or conflicting with inaugural events, including activities associated with inauguration.

C. Requests for permits generally will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis.

D. Capitol Square is available for permitted events from sunrise to sunset daily, subject to the restrictions of 1VAC30-100-30 C.

E. Permitted events may last a maximum of one hour, with an additional 30 minutes to set up the event and 30 minutes to take it down.

F. No more than one event will be scheduled for the same time on the same day. This includes permitted setup and takedown time.

G. Application for a permit shall be made in writing on an Application for Use of Capitol Square and submitted to the department at least six days prior to the planned event when the expected attendance is less than 1,000 individuals. Application for events when expected attendance is more than 1,000 individuals shall be submitted 45 days in advance, except as specified in subsection I of this section.

H. An application for an event must contain, at a minimum, the following information:

1. Type and purpose of event, meeting, or function.

2. Name, address, telephone number, and email address of permittee.

3. Name, address, telephone number, and email address of alternate contact.

4. Name of organization, date of origin, status (e.g., corporation, unincorporated association, partnership, or nonprofit corporation) and name, address, and telephone number, and email address of registered agent if the permittee is a corporation or other business entity.

5. Approximate number of people who will attend the event.

6. Requested date and time of the event.

7. Whether the event is being advertised or promoted to the general public.

8. Transportation plan for attendees.

9. Waste management plan.

10. Whether the department's sound equipment will be needed.

I. An applicant may request as part of the application an exception to the six-day or 45-day requirements by providing written explanation of the reason such exception should be granted by the department, provided:

1. The applicant submits a completed permit application in accordance with this chapter;

2. The applicant shows in clear and descriptive writing, why the circumstances giving rise to the proposed event did not reasonably allow the applicant to apply for a permit in compliance with the time requirements; and

3. The event has not been planned for more than six days in advance of the proposed date of the event for those with fewer than 1,000 attendees or more than 45 days for events with more than 1,000 attendees.

J. The speaker and programmed activities for any permitted event must be located within the permit area.

K. Applications for permits may be submitted up to 180 days in advance of the date of the proposed event. The department will deny permit applications submitted more than 180 days in advance of the date of the proposed event.

L. Generally, permit requests will be granted or denied within five business days. Permit requests for events that are likely to require additional department or law enforcement resources may take longer to review.

M. The permit and the rights thereunder are nontransferable and may not be assigned to a third party.

N. Events should not be announced, promoted, or advertised until the applicant receives a permit.

O. Permit applications, issued permits, and supporting documentation are subject to release under Virginia's Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq. of the Code of Virginia).

P. All permitted activities on Capitol Square must strictly adhere to the times as scheduled to ensure that the activities will not conflict with other scheduled and permitted activities.

Q. The department reserves the right to limit the use of Capitol Square at any time due to unforeseen operational circumstances, including to emergency maintenance or urgent public health or security concerns. Every reasonable effort will be made to alleviate the effects of any such limitation.

R. The department may cancel a scheduled event if the location is required for an official government function. In such cases, the department will notify the contact person as soon as possible, and every reasonable effort will be made to allow for rescheduling the event.