Permits

Are you planning an event or activity that involves any of the elements below? If so, you'll need a permit. Please apply for this via Servix.

In general

• Duration of event beyond regular building opening hours (including setup and dismantling) 
• Event duration exceeding more than two days
• Exhibition, job fair or conferences 
• Roadshow or company presentation
• Promotion (general) 
  
• Sales campaign
• Celebration (apart from academic events) e.g. party, bar evening or Xmas party
• Use of barbecue or cooking facilities
• More than 500 people
• Sponsors
• Public tour, private group tour
• Filming or photo shoots
• Unmanned vehicles or aircraft (e.g. drones)

Outdoors

• Research, scientific data collection (e.g. soil drilling, measurements)
• Open-air cinema
• Drink/food stalls
• Models (exhibits, buildings)
  If on display for over a month, these require a permit from the City of Zurich.
• Musical performances, music acts
• Sports events, stage and temporary tent structures

In particular

• Events organised by ETH-associated entities (exceptional use)
  • Institutions and respective units within the ETH domain; ETH authorities
    
  • ETH partner organisations
  • University of Zurich
• Events organised by external entities (third-party use)
• All events held in the Audi Max, require prior approval from the ETH Permit Office.
• All events held in the Semperaula, require prior approval from the ETH Permit Office.

This list is not exhaustive. 

Definition of "Patronage for a third-party event"

In addition to the Regulations on Room Use (in German) and the ETH Zurich Event Policy, the following is set out in Section 4.

Use by third parties Art. 9
Purpose of room use by third parties: Rooms may be made available for third-party events. First and foremost, events with the purpose of education and communication of scientific knowledge are considered.
Specifically, this means that third-party events must be directly related to ETH and/or be of benefit to ETH. To prove this, third-party events must have the patronage of an authorized ETH unit.

Only the following persons are authorised as patrons:

• Members of the Executive Board
• Heads of the departments of ETH Zurich
• Professors of ETH Zurich
• Heads of the departments
• Managing Director of the ETH Zurich Foundation
• Managing Director of ETH Industry Relations

By accepting a patronage, the patron confirms that the event has a direct connection with ETH or will be beneficial to the university. He/she also assumes responsibility for the content and organisation of the event.

The patron ¡­

... accepts responsibility for ensuring that the event is in keeping with ETH¡¯s role and reputation and that it directly or indirectly benefits the university.
... guarantees that the organiser is a recognised institution.
... guarantees that the event is not purely commercial.
... ensures that the event complies with the ETH Regulations on Room Use.
... contributes personally to the event content, where possible.
... accepts a degree of organisational responsibility for the event or supports the organiser in implementing it.

Patronage should not be granted solely as a gesture of goodwill to organisers.