Street Performing Rules

Since 2016, Downtown Manitou Springs has been regulated with a Sit-Lie Ordinance, which is an ordinance that has the intention to ensure safe public passage on our sidewalks on public right of way. As a result of this Sit-Lie Ordinance, standard street performing (sitting on a stool, playing an instrument, and placing a container out for donations) was prohibited. In June of 2022, an Ordinance proposing "designated locations" for street performing was voted down by City Council 2-5. 

At a later City Council meeting, the Council gave direction to create a task force of street performers, business owners, and police department personnel that can work together towards a common solution. 

Contact Us

  1. Alex Trefry

    Public Information Officer
    Email Alex Trefry

The Street Performing Work Group was a work group of six people (two street performers, two business owners, and two police department personnel) and a facilitator who's purpose was to compromise to create an amendment to the Sit-Lie Ordinance that allowed for street performing. The group proposed an amendment to the Sit-Lie Ordinance in March and April of 2023, and City Council unanimously approved the Ordinance on April 4, 2023.

Street Performing in Manitou Springs is legal and we encourage street performers to share their artforms with our residents, businesses, and visitors. In order to street perform, you do not need a license or a permit, but you do need to follow all of the following requirements/regulations.

Street performing is only allowed during the following time periods:

  • Memorial Day - Labor Day from 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
  • Labor Day - Memorial Day from 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

NO AMPLIFIERS ALLOWEDA general prohibition symbol over an amplifier

Displaying items is considered placing an item in the public right of way. Examples of this include a stool to sit on, or a case to accept donations. Displaying items is legal, given that the performer is abiding by the following regulations:

  • The items must be integral to the performance
  • The items must be within a 5-foot radius of the performer
  • The items do not obstruct or impede pedestrian traffic
  • Amplifiers are prohibited

Street performers do not have the right to reserve any location, and are forbidden from charging a fee (they can still accept donations). When performing, street performers cannot perform within any of the restricted locations. The locations are as follows:

  • 20-feet of a building entrance
    • Unless the owner(s) of the building(s) and/or manager(s) of the establishment(s) with entrances within twenty-feet of the performance provides written permission to the performer
  • 20-feet of any fire lane or crosswalk
  • 15-feet of an ATM
  • 40-feet of the outer perimeter of any outdoor dining area with the area is being used for dining
  • 40-feet of the stage of a concert taking place
  • 40-feet of another performer then performing
    • Performers may play together in unison, but they must not obstruct or impede on pedestrian traffic

Street performers may not perform...

  • On a public bench, chair, seat, table, retaining wall, planter, or other similar above-ground level public fixture
  • Within any public area that is currently closed to the public
  • If the performance, or crowd formed because of the performance, reduces a sidewalk to less than four feet in width of safe passage 

Download our Street Performing Basic Regulations One-Page Flyer!