Permits aplenty for Park City fun
Punch line: More people than it takes to screw in a light bulb.
If nobody laughs, act surprised. Then explain about Park City's elaborate system for issuing permits for signs, parties, lounges and screenings and then everyone will be amazed.
For each temporary sign in Park City — like the ones scattered up and down Main Street advertising gifting suites and celebrity lounges — there are permits, site plans, color schemes and details that must be approved. That's not to mention the conditional use permits, temporary business licenses, liquor licenses and overcrowding permits that must be approved for every unofficial Sundance activity.
"This is one of our most important events of the year," said Ron Ivie, Park City's chief building official. "It's crazy, and there's a point when it gets beyond crazy."
The Sundance Film Festival is handled separately as a "master festival license holder," but all of the ancillary events that take place at the same time as the festival must still receive a variety of approvals from the city before they can function legally. The city has code enforcement officials on the streets every day to make sure buildings are in compliance with the city's regulations.
"Sundance itself, as an event, we have very little problem with," Ivie said. "It's well-planned in advance and it's rare that we get a problem with Sundance. The more likely problems, as far as enforcement problems, are these other activities that are here because of Sundance but not part of it."
The city has strict requirements for granting its permits. Even site plans for temporary buildings like tents have to include details of the interior of the facility, chairs, tables and a plan for trash removal, heating, food service and snow removal.
Businesses who sell beer and alcohol to their guests are required to get a license from the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, but the department does make some exceptions.
This year the DABC only issued seven single-event permits and one temporary beer license for the festival. Most of the elite parties were not required to obtain licenses because events that are invitation-only, where alcohol is served for free, are not required to receive licenses.
"I'm sure there are many, many parties and events going on, but if there's no sale and they're not open to the public, then they don't need a permit," said Sharon Mackay, department spokeswoman. "It's anybody's guess how many permits you would need if you grouped (public and private events) together."
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