City to waive event fees for non-profits

The Canyon Lake City Council unanimously voted at its city council meeting last week to waive special event permit application fees for active and exempt non-profit 501 (c)(3) charitable organizations for the remainder of the calendar year.

To qualify for the fee waiver, a non-profit organization must have an active 501(c)(3) designation awarded by the IRS, have an active status with the California Secretary of State, and have a valid Canyon Lake business license. The waiver also applies to religious organizations. These religious groups are tax exempt and not required to obtain a Canyon Lake business license per Canyon Lake Municipal Code Section 5.01.120.

There is one exception to the fee waiver, the city said in a press release on the subject. Fees will not be waived on the City‘s Special Event Permit – Minor since this permit is issued through an automatic-approval process through an online portal. The cost for this Minor permit is $20.00.

“Canyon Lake is a social and active community, and our non-profits are an important part of what makes us special,” Council Member Jennifer Dain said. “The events they host ignite a sense of excitement and unity amongst our residents, and they serve our community in so many ways through donations, scholarships, volunteerism and much more.”

Established in 1997, Canyon Lake Municipal Code, Chapter 11.25, specifies that all special events, gatherings, and planned occurrences that may attract 50 or more people require a special event permit from the city. In December 2022, the Council adopted an updated Citywide Fee Schedule which established a new tier structure for special event permits based on the size and type of event.

Since the fee schedule was adopted last year, the city said it has received significant feedback regarding the cost of the permit, particularly from the local non-profits, clubs, and activity groups.

“Since implementing the new tier structure we have listened to the community, and we believe we can find better solutions together,” Council Member Kasey Castillo said. “We are grateful to give back to all of these organizations that do such a wonderful job, and this is a great starting point as we move forward.”

The city has committed to reviewing existing municipal codes and processes associated with Special Event Permits and intends to revise them accordingly. Any future changes would need to go before the City Council for formal approval and adoption. For more information on Special Events Permits requirements and tiers, or to apply for a permit, visit www.canyon

lakeca.gov/specialevents.