Mass Gathering Information

Thinking about hosting a mass gathering in Ellis County Unincorporated Areas?

Planning for Public Safety, Parking, and Traffic


Before you do, check out some guidelines that must be met by Ellis County. There are penalties for not meeting the following guidelines. All gatherings must be emailed to EllisCountyGatherings@co.ellis.tx.us (see below requirements).


Mass Gathering Requirements


Mass Gatherings of 2,500+ Individuals (or Horse & Greyhound Races with 100+)*

Permit Required - Print Out a Permit Application Here.

See the following guidelines that must be abided by in Fire Code: Chapter 4, Emergency Planning and Preparedness

  • Section 403.1, Fire watch personnel
  • Section 403.1.1, Duties of fire watch personnel
  • Public safety plan section 403.2: fire code official determines that an indoor or outdoor gathering of persons has an adverse impact on public safety through diminished access to buildings, structures, fire hydrants and fire apparatus access roads or where such gatherings adversely affect public safety services of any kind, the fire code official shall have the authority to order the development of, or prescribe a plan for , the provision of an approved level of public safety.
  • Content of plan section 403.2.1: shall address such items as emergency vehicle ingress and egress, fire protection, emergency medical services, public assembly areas and the directing of both attendees and vehicles ( including the parking of vehicles), vendor and food concession distribution, and the need for the presence of law enforcement, and fire and emergency medical services personnel at the event.
  • Section 403.3 Crowd Managers: trained crowd managers shall be provided for facilities or events where more than 1,000 persons congregate. The minimum number of crowd managers shall be established at a ratio of one crowd manager to every 250 persons. Where approved by the fire code official the ratio of crowd managers shall be permitted to be reduced where the facility is equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system or based upon the nature of the event.
  • Please submit traffic plan per Texas Penal Code § 42.03. Obstructing Highway or Other Passageway:

(A) A person commits an offense if, without legal privilege or authority, he intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly:
(1) obstructs a highway, street, sidewalk, railway, waterway, elevator, aisle, hallway, entrance, or exit to which the public or a substantial group of the public has access, or any other place used for the passage of persons, vehicles, or conveyances, regardless of the means of creating the obstruction and whether the obstruction arises from his acts alone or from his acts and the acts of others; or
(2) disobeys a reasonable request or order to move issued by a person the actor knows to be or is informed is a peace officer, a fireman, or a person with authority to control the use of the premises:
(A) to prevent obstruction of a highway or any of those areas mentioned in Subdivision (1); or
(B) to maintain public safety by dispersing those gathered in dangerous proximity to a fire, riot, or other hazard.
(b) For purposes of this section, "obstruct" means to render impassable or to render passage unreasonably inconvenient or hazardous.
(c) An offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor. 

If your event meets the above requirements, please email request for a mass gathering application to: countyjudge@co.ellis.tx.us for 2,500+ with the following information included (required).

  • Event Name:
  • Event Host:
  • Event Host Contact Information:
  • Event Location:
  • Expected Occupancy:
  • Email must include fire safety and traffic plan

*A permit is required for those events including “a horse or greyhound race that attracts or is expected to attract at least 100 persons, except that this chapter does not apply if the race is held at a location at which pari-mutuel wagering is authorized under the Texas Racing Act.” See Tex. Health and Safety Code §751.0021.