Queen Creek adopts special-events ordinance after council debate over amplified sound; vote 4-1

The Queen Creek Town Council on Oct. 15 adopted Ordinance 876-25, which adds Chapter 19 to the town code to establish a special-events permitting framework and amends Chapter 9 (offenses) to provide enforcement mechanisms.

Police Chief Bridal presented the ordinance and told the council the measure responds to a rising number of large, intermittent events the department has had to manage. The proposed code defines a ‘‘special event’’ as an intermittent activity of four or fewer consecutive days that is inconsistent with a property’s permitted land use and that may affect public safety or town operations. The ordinance is written to apply to both public and private property and to address six broad categories that commonly trigger permitting: town property and rights of way, deviation from permitted land use or occupancy, events that overwhelm public-safety resources, events on private property that affect public roadways or access, use of pyrotechnics/ fireworks and events with amplified sound or that require a state liquor license.

The ordinance establishes standard submittal timelines and an administrative review…