County proposes changes to temporary outdoor public events code; commissioners set two‑part public hearing

Mason County Community Development on Tuesday presented proposed amendments to County Code Title 5, Chapter 5.18 — the Temporary Outdoor Public Events (TOPE) rules — that would create a permit pathway for smaller outdoor events not covered by the existing regulations.

"This came to our attention more out of enforcement actions," a county planner told commissioners, describing a gap where small outdoor music events and vendor shows are occurring on private property but currently have no legal permitting route because the code applies to much larger events. The code change would expand the county’s TOPE framework to address sanitation, traffic, vendor licensing and noise for a broader range of outdoor events while preserving exemptions for private family gatherings.

Commissioners raised concerns about First Amendment assembly and political rallies; staff said the draft amendments focus on outdoor music and vendor events and are not intended to prohibit protests or street assemblies. Commissioners also discussed long‑standing local events — some organized by volunteer groups — and the county’s prior enforcement approach when events lacked a legal pathway.

After discussion, the board asked staff to solicit additional stakeholder input and arranged the matter as a two‑part public hearing: set the first public hearing for June 24 with a second follow‑up hearing two weeks later (tentatively July 8) to allow public testimony and any needed continuances. Staff and commissioners emphasized outreach to event organizers and neighbors before the hearings.

The proposed code edits were informational at Tuesday’s meeting; Commissioners asked staff to invite stakeholders to testify at the June 24 hearing and to return with a final draft after public comment.