The Special Event License (SEL) Application can be downloaded here.  Please fill out completely and return to the Finance Office at Sturgis City Hall.

If your event is open to the PUBLIC, you must partner with an entity/business that has a malt beverage or liquor license.  Or, you may partner with a non-profit organization.  If you partner with a non-profit organization, you or they may need to purchase special liability coverage for serving alcohol.  You will need to apply for a Special Event Liquor (SEL) license.

If you are hosting a PRIVATE event, you may apply for a Consumption Only Permit Application. 

Also, here is the Consumption Permit Hold Harmless document. 

The Sturgis City Council must approve a SEL license at a Public Hearing.  This requires a minimum of two Council meetings. At the first meeting, the Council will set the date of the public hearing.  The City staff will publish the notice of the Public Hearing in the newspaper.  The Council will then consider the Special Event Liquor (SEL) license application at the Public Hearing.  To be place on the agenda, the applicant must complete the SEL license application and submit all required documentation.  Please plan at least 45 calendar days from your application to granting an application.     

Applicants are HIGHLY encouraged to attend the Public Hearing for their SEL license application.  

You can only change the date for your Special Event License (SEL) through Council action at a Public Hearing so, basically, you must reapply for a new license.

If you don't have time to request a new SEL and depending on the type of event, an option is to relocate your event to a venue that has a malt beverage or liquor license already.

By ordinance, the City does not allow alcohol to be carried off premise from any establishment that sells alcohol (malt beverages, liquor or wine).  However, the Sturgis City Council can lift the prohibition of open container by resolution.  If the Council lift the prohibition, it will require the use of a City or Chamber event cup.  The lifting of open container must be approved by the City Council.  Even if the Council approves a request to lift open container, it will only allow wine and malt beverages.  State law prohibits the lifting of open container for beverages containing liquor and spirits.  If approved, the event will be required to post signage at the boundaries of the open container corridor.

Examples where open container has been allowed in the past by the Council are downtown street dances, "show and shine" events, and "Music on Main" events.  

To request that the Council consider your open container request, you must submit the City's Special Event Application at least 60 days prior to your event.  

The City has several  spaces available for public events.  These spaces are very popular, so you must contact the departments directly to inquire about availability, space restrictions, costs, etc.

• Harley-Davidson Rally Point - (605) 347-4422, option 2
• Sturgis Community Center - Theater, Gym, Meade Room - (605) 347-6513
• Sturgis Armory - Wood floor gymnasium - (605) 347-6513
• Sturgis Public Library - Community Room. Lushbaugh Room - (605) 347-2624
• Sturgis Park Shelters - Stock, Woodland, Lion's Club - (605) 347-3916
• Sturgis Sports Facilities - softball, baseball, soccer, etc. - (605) 347-3916
• Sturgis Fairgrounds - (605) 347-3916

For details on reserving a Park Shelter, click here or contact the Public Works Department at (605) 347-3916.  Park Shelters are very popular and we only take reservations for the CURRENT YEAR.  Please reserve park shelters early in the year for your event.  

Please contact the Community Center at (605) 347-6513 to reserve the Armory.  You will need to fill out a lease agreement to use the space.  Fees depend on the length of rental, type of organization renting, and what the event requires (i.e. tables, chairs, etc.)   

Please contact the Community Center at (605) 347-6513 to reserve the Meade Room, Gymnasium, or Theater at the Community Center.  You will need to fill out a lease agreement to use the space.  Fees depend on the length of rental, type of organization renting, and what the event requires (i.e. tables, chairs, etc.)  

Please contact the Rally & Events Department at (605) 347-4422, opt 2 to reserve the Harley-Davidson Rally Point.  You must submit the City's Special Event Application at least 60 days prior to your event in order to request use of the Rally Point.

Please contact the Rally & Events Department at (605) 347-4422, opt 2 to reserve the Fairgrounds.  You must submit the City's Special Event Application at least 60 days prior to your event in order to request use of the Fairgrounds.  

Please contact the Rally & Events Department at (605) 347-4422, opt 2 to reserve Barry Stadium.  You must submit the City's Special Event Application at least 60 days prior to your event in order to request use of Barry Stadium.

Currently, the City only requires a Temporary Vending License from approximately July 15th to August 15th for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.  For questions about vendor licensing, please contact the Planning & Permitting Department at (605) 347-4422, option 3.   

If your event will require a street closure lasting more than 3 hours and/or will require barricades for traffic control, you need a street closure.  The City requires applicants to provide advanced notification to all businesses and/or residents who will be directly impacted by the street closure. This requirement ensures that businesses and residents have the opportunity to attend the public hearing, inform their clients, and make alternative plans for access.  Your request must be approved by the Sturgis City Council.  Street closures require at least two Council meetings for approval -- during the first meeting, Council will set the date for its a public hearing.  A notice will be published in the newspaper announcing the date of the public hearing at an upcoming Council meeting.  To request a street closure for an event, you must submit the City's Special Event Application at least 60 days prior to your event to request a street closure lasting longer than 3 hours or that requires barricades for traffic control.

If your event will not require a street closure lasting more than 3 hours, you will need a temporary street closure.  This requires review and approval from the City Manager, Chief of Police, and Public Works Director to have the temporary street closure. You must submit the City's Special Event Application at least 60 days prior to your event in order to request approval of a temporary street closure.  

If your event is a parade, you will need approval of your parade route.  This requires review and approval by the City Manager, Chief of Police and Public Works Director to host the parade.  You must submit the City's Special Event Application to request approval of a parade.  

It depends!  In some cases, city staff will be able to assist with the physical road closure.  In some cases, you will be responsible for closing the streets.  If that is the case, the City will provide you with temporary barricades and your organization will need to close and reopen the streets at the designated time.  If you are approved for the use of barricades, the City's Public Works Department will assist with the road closure.  However, you must request that assistance as part of the Special Event Application process.  City staff will let you know how the physical street closure will be completed.  

In some cases, the Chief of Police will require a road guard to stop, reroute or direct traffic at the road closure(s).  This is an especially common requirement for parades.  This requirement will be communicated to you when you submit your Special Event Application.   

If your event is a parade, you will need approval of your parade route.  This requires review and approval by the City Manager, Chief of Police and Public Works Director to host the parade.  You must submit the City's Special Event Application to request approval of a parade.

A "show and shine" style event on Main Street is a street closure lasting more than 3 hours and will require barricades for traffic control.  You need a street closure approved by the City Council.  As part of that request process, the City requires applicants to provide advanced notification to all businesses and/or residents who will be directly impacted by the street closure. This requirement ensures that businesses and residents have the opportunity to attend the public hearing, inform their clients, and make alternative plans for access.  You must notify property owners within 250 ft of the street closure.  Your request must be approved by the Sturgis City Council.  Street closures require at least two Council meetings for approval -- during the first meeting, Council will set the date for its a public hearing.  A notice will published in the newspaper announcing the date of the public hearing at an upcoming Council meeting.  To request a street closure for an event, please submit the City's Special Event Application at least 60 days prior to your event to to request a street closure lasting longer than 3 hours or that requires barricades for traffic control.

The City will not promote your event.  In limited situations, it may post on its various social media account(s) about your event, especially if it will have impacts for traffic flow, etc.  Additionally, the Community Center often posts on its Facebook page about public and community events happening at the Center, but it is not able to do this for every event.

However, the Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce publishes a digital newsletter "The Weekly Scoop".  If you are eligible, you can post the event in this publication.  They also host the All Sturgis Events website at: allsturgisevents.com

The City of Sturgis, The Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce and the Sturgis Downtown Foundation have collaborated on this all-encompassing calendar: allsturgisevents.com

The South Dakota Department of Revenue is responsible for collection of sales tax within the City limits and can answer all your questions.  Their phone number is (605) 394-2332   You can stop by their office in Rapid City at 221 Mall Drive, Suite 103.

The South Dakota Department of Revenue is responsible for collection of sales tax within the City limits and can answer all your questions.  Their phone number is (605) 394-2332   You can stop by their office in Rapid City at 221 Mall Drive, Suite 103.

If you are doing business away from your permanent location, you will need to be issued a South Dakota Temporary Sales Tax License.  This is most common during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and other larger events.  The South Dakota Department of Revenue can answer all your questions.  Their phone number is (605) 394-2332   You can stop by their office in Rapid City at 221 Mall Drive, Suite 103.

The City Council budgets $20,000 per year for event promotion / sponsorship.  The Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce manages the distribution of the funds on behalf of the City for events within our community.  If you would like to apply for event funding, please contact the Chamber at (605) 347-2556 to get an application.  Please note that these funding grants are typically small!

The Chamber sponsors its own signature events.  However, the City Council budgets $10,000 per year for event promotion / sponsorship within our community.  The Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce manages the distribution of the funds on behalf of the City.  If you would like to apply for event funding, please contact the Chamber at (605) 347-2556 to get an application.  Please note that these funding grants are typically small!

The Downtown Sturgis Foundation manages the tax levies collected by the downtown business improvement district (BID).  Occasionally, the Downtown Sturgis Foundation will partner with (and provide limited funding) to events that happen within the downtown corridor.  To partner with the Downtown Sturgis Foundation, you will have to submit the City's Special Event Application at least 60 days prior to your event to request funding and support.  For questions, please contact the Rally & Events Department at (605) 347-4422, option 2.  

The Hotel Occupancy Tax is charged per night per room in our local hotels and motels.  The Hotel board collected by the downtown business improvement district (BID).  Occasionally, the Downtown Sturgis Foundation will partner with (and provide limited funding) to events that happen within the downtown corridor.  To partner with the Downtown Sturgis Foundation, you will have to submit the City's Special Event Application at least 60 days prior to your event to request funding and support. For questions, please contact the Rally & Events Department at (605) 347-4422, option 2.

Yes, you can, but it much more complicated!  City resources are already dedicated to crowd control and public safety.  Additionally, additional street closures may not be permitted due to the increased traffic in town.  Please contact our City Finance Office at (605) 347-4422, option 1 to explore the feasibility of your ideas.   

It will also be helpful to review the City's General Nuisance Ordinance (Title 12)  and  Offenses and Regulation Ordinance (Title 13) to ensure understanding and compliance.

Please contact our Rally & Events Department at (606) 347-4422, option 2.  They are more than happy to brainstorm your event with you and point you in the correct direction.  Please note that we are unable to plan your event though!