Parade and Assembly Permits

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The following sections serve only as a simplified guideline. Please read the City Ordinance, Chapter 6, Article 11 and 11-A, for actual language and definitions. Please call the Police Department at 947-7384, or the City Legal Department at 945-4400, if you have questions.

You Probably Need A Permit If:

You wish to have a parade, march, demonstration, or motorcade of persons, animals, or vehicles upon the public streets, sidewalks, or parks of the city, and your activities interfere with, or have the tendency to interfere with the normal flow or regulation of vehicle or pedestrian traffic.

You wish to have a public assembly, meeting, demonstration, picket line, or rally of three or more persons upon the public streets, sidewalks, or parks of the city, and your activities interfere with, or have the tendency to interfere with the normal flow or regulation of vehicle or pedestrian traffic, or that has a tendency to interfere with access of any person to public or private premises.

You Do Not Need A Permit If:

The event will be held on private property and you have the permission of the property owner.

For normal pedestrian and vehicular use, and use of city parks as determined by their design.

Funeral processions.

School events under the supervision of proper school authorities.

Activities of a government agency acting within the scope of its functions.

For spontaneous events occasioned by news or affairs coming into public knowledge within three days prior to such parade or public assembly, provided that any organizer of such events gives written notice to the Chief of Police or his designee at least twenty-four hours prior to such parade or public assembly.

How To Apply For A Permit

Call 947-7384, extension 290, and request that a Parade and Public Assembly application form be sent to you, or come into the police station and obtain a copy of the application.

Please file your application at least 7 days, but no more than 30 days before the date of the parade or other activity. Under certain conditions, waivers to the 7-day requirement can be obtained from the Chief of Police.

Please include a non-refundable fee of $5.00 to cover the costs of processing the permit at the time the application is filed. This fee may be waived if the event is non-commercial, and both the sponsor and applicant are unable to pay the fee.

If Your Application Is Denied

The Chief of Police will review your application to see that it complies with the City Ordinance. If your request is not in compliance, or if you will be required to pay additional costs associated with providing public safety, you will be notified promptly. Additional costs are not charged for non-commercial events conducted for the purpose of public issue speech under the provisions of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.

You will have the right to appeal the decision of the Chief of Police to the City Manager. The appeal must be made within 5 days of the application denial. The City Manager will respond within 2 days of receiving the appeal.