Indoor events like home shows, auto shows, trade shows, haunted houses, music concerts, rodeos, and religious gatherings occur all over Calgary. You must follow the safety guidelines on this page and get all required permits before hosting your event. Read our Indoor Special Event booklet for more information.

Read our Indoor Special Events booklet for the safety requirements for items such as seating, cooking, tents, canopies, booths, decorative materials, and structures.

Create a request below and a Calgary Fire Department Safety Codes Officer will contact you.

You must have all required fire permits before the start of your event. To get any of the required permits, you must submit an information package for review and approval at least 30 days prior to the event. If your event starts and you don’t have all required permits you will be in violation of the Safety Codes Act of Alberta.

Follow these steps to obtain a permit:

1. Create a Request for a Special Event Inspection as below or call 311. 
2. Compile all of the required documents into an information package and submit it to the Calgary Fire Department, Special Events Safety Codes Officer.

You must submit an information package prior to the start of your event. This package includes payment for the permits and the following documents:

• Event information sheet which includes:
  • Event name
  • Venue name and address
  • Event Date(s) and time(s)
  • Set-up and move-out dates
  • Description of event
  • Maximum estimated number of people to be in attendance at one time
  • Event Coordinator contact information (e.g. name, address, phone numbers)
  • Contact info for individuals that can provide detailed information about set-up and operation of the event
• Detailed floor plans which specifies:
  • Physical layout of the event, to scale, which includes exhibits, tents, canopies, vehicles, fences, and all cooking facilities
  • All measurements in metric
  • Access to exits and their location and size
  • A to scale booth layout of the entire show
  • Locations and dimensions of all aisles and cross aisles
  • Size and location of stages or other performing areas
  • Location and accessibility of all required fire alarm ‘pull stations’, fire extinguishers, and fire department standpipe connections and cabinets

  Note: We maintain a file of pre-approved event floor plans. Applicants must identify whether a preapproved plan or another plan will be used for their event. Modifications to preapproved plans must be detailed and will require our review prior to the use of the changed plan.

• Descriptions and plans for special circumstances including:
  • Display, use, and operation of any open flame, candles, lamps, torches, cooking, etc.
  • Use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) or liquefied natural gas (LNG)
  • Use, handling or storage of any pyrotechnic materials or devices
  • Temporary membrane structures, tents, canopies, or covered exhibit booths
  • Display of any motorized or non-motorized vehicles
  • Use of special fuel blends for motor vehicle events
  • Use of vehicles for indoor events

To ensure your event maintains all safety requirements, our Safety Codes Officers may conduct periodic inspections of your event. This may include:

• A walk-through with the event coordinator during the move-in or set-up period
• Daily visits, once the event as started.
• Spot checks of any cooking locations and strict enforcement of all requirements.
• Inspections of emergency access, exiting and hazards during the move-out or closing of the event.

Contact 311 for information about applying for permits related to these event activities.

At our discretion, one or more Safety Codes Officers may be required to be present at the event. If an officer is required, the event will be billed at the current rates.

If we find any unsafe act or condition or something that constitutes imminent danger, we have the authority to stop the event until all unsafe conditions are corrected.

Failure to comply with the National Fire Code (Alberta Edition) can result in fines and even jail time as outlined in the Safety Codes Act. Failure to comply applies to:

• Not meeting the safety requirements during your event
• Starting the event without all of the required fire and safety permits

If you are found guilty of non-compliance the consequences can be:

• For a first offence, fines up to $100,000 and up to $1,000 for each day where the offense continues and/or imprisonment for up to 6 months.
• For second offence, fines up to $500,000 and up to $2,000 for each day where the offence continues and/or imprisonment up to 12 months.