All applications for the DBAC area, must receive pre-approval from the Main Street Director at avarona@tylertexas.com prior to submitting to the Tyler Police Department. To schedule an appointment contact us at (903) 593-6905 or mainstreet@tylertexas.com. Applications may be delayed if action not completed. 

The City of Tyler Downtown Business, Arts and Culture District is defined as the area bound by Gentry Parkway on the north, Front Street on the south, Beckham Avenue on the east and Palace Avenue on the west. 

The DBAC is a densely populated district consisting of numerous businesses, institutions and residences. As the livelihood of commercial businesses depends upon advance timing, access to their site for customers and general conduct of business, certain rules apply to this area as follows:

Application for all closure requests in the DBAC must be made 60 business days ahead of the event. All affected property and business owners must be notified, in writing, between 60 and 45 business days prior to the event, and proof of that notification must be turned in no later than 45 business days prior to the event. Affected property and business owners are those whose access to and use of the building would likely be impacted by the closure.

Any type of closure must be carefully considered, keeping in mind public safety, access of emergency vehicles to people and property, the conduct of business in this district and minimizing potential to property in the DBAC. As such, the size of the event closure will depend upon expected crowd size and number of years the event has been in operation. The guidelines are:

• First year events: no street or parking closures. (Unless proof of attendance is provided)
• Tier 1 - Up to 300 in attendance: no street or parking closures.
• Tier 2 - 300-500 in attendance: may apply for closure of parking spaces that immediately surround the T.B. Butler Plaza or selected event area.
• Tier 3 - 500-1,000 in attendance: may apply for closure of streets immediately surrounding the event site (for example, an event on the T.B. Butler Plaza could apply for closure of parking spaces surrounding the square, plus Ferguson, College and Erwin. ALL sidewalks must remain open AT ALL TIMES. Closure may only extend to the curb.
• Tier 3- More than 1,000 in attendance: As negotiated with the Tyler Main Street and Police Department.
• The event’s history and its organizers will be taken into consideration when defining the closure area.

•       Tier 1 and 2 shall only apply for closures on event days.

•       Tier 3 with 500 to 1,000 in attendance shall only apply for closures on event days.

•       Tier 3 with more than 1,000 in attendance shall apply for closures for setup no earlier than 6 pm the day prior to the event. The section of Broadway between Ferguson and Erwin can be requested to be closed no earlier than Noon the day prior to the event.

•       Tier 1 is $250 per day or $100 per day if the applicant is a Downtown business and a deposit is $1,000.

•       Tier 2 is $450 per day or $200 per day if the applicant is a Downtown business and the deposit is $3,000.

•       Tier 3 is $3,500 per day or $1,500 per day if the applicant is a Downtown business and the deposit is $3,000.

The deposit amount shall be refunded after the event if the closure area, surrounding area, and Fair Plaza Parking Garage is clean, in good order and all complaints/concerns of property owners and businesses within the closure area have been resolved in a satisfactory manner.

The Main Street Director has the right to limit the number of closures per month due to the impact on Downtown businesses. Typical approval will consist of approximately two to three permits per month and are based on street closure needs. Priority will be given to reoccurring events with those applicants who are in good standing with the City. 

Use of the T.B. Butler Plaza (the Square) is solely under the control of Smith County, the property owner.
Please contact Smith County at (903) 590-4600 or visit their website.

You are encouraged to visit DowntownTyler.org for helpful information and links regarding holding events in the DBAC.

A map of the area to be utilized for the parade/special event MUST accompany the application. The permit will not be accepted until a map with the indicated points of closure has been received and approved. Maps must be in electronic format and can be created from Google or Bing maps, or equivalent approved by the City. Hand drawn maps will not be accepted.

The owners/tenants of ALL property along the area that will be affected by the parade/special event shall receive a written notice from the applicant stating the time, date, and EXACT ROUTE/LOCATION of the event, as well as the event activities; e.g., parade, barbecue, music, etc. An approved format for notice is available and can be reproduced OR applicants can provide notice by a form notification letter that would include the name, date and time of the event to be handed out or placed at residences/businesses.

Certain rules apply to requirements for notification regarding Downtown Business, Arts and Culture District closures.

• Tier 3 applications must host a public open house meeting at a minimum of 60 days prior to the event.
• Tier 3 applications must schedule a meeting with the County and City representatives at a minimum of six months prior to the event.
• Applications must include a map identifying traffic routes, locations of barricades, cones, and detour signs. All traffic control devices must be supplied by the event facilitators. The City of Tyler does not supply traffic control devices for non-City events.

If police, traffic, or streets personnel will be assigned to handle traffic control and/or crowd control at your special event, please contact the special events permit coordinator at (903)531-1090