Special Events & Permits in Ashwaubenon, WI

Ashwaubenon maintains 112 local ordinances across all categories, and 2 of those deal specifically with special events & permits. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Ashwaubenon falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Parade Permits

Any parade, festival, concert, run or similar special event using Village right-of-way, parks or Village property in Ashwaubenon falls under Section 6-11-456 of the Municipal Code and needs authorization under the Village Board of Trustees' Special Event Policy, decided case by case, with violations punishable by a $25 to $500 forfeiture per offense.

Key details: Governing section: Municipal Code § 6-11-456. Penalty range: $25 to $500 per offense. Decision authority: Village Board of Trustees policy. Last amended: Ord. O6-1-23, June 27, 2023. Covers: Parades, festivals, runs, food-truck rallies.

Violating any provision of the Village Board's Special Event Policy is punishable under Section 6-11-456(D) by a forfeiture of not less than $25.00 nor more than $500.00 for each offense. Because the Village treats every event individually, holding an unauthorized parade, festival or organized food-truck rally on Village property, streets or park land can trigger a separate forfeiture for each occurrence.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Ashwaubenon actively enforces its parade permits requirements.

Park Event Permits

Groups that want to reserve equipment, host a gathering or pitch a tent in an Ashwaubenon village park need a permit under Municipal Code Section 15-2-53. Permits are issued in writing by the parks, recreation and forestry department, and a tent additionally needs sign-off from the building and fire inspectors plus an application filed with the village clerk-treasurer.

Key details: Permit issuer: Parks, recreation and forestry dept. Tent permits: Need building & fire inspector sign-off. Tent application filed with: Village clerk-treasurer. Equipment leases: May require liability insurance. Penalty: $1-$5,000 forfeiture, Section 1-1-13.

Operating without the required permit, or violating the conditions attached to one, is enforced as a Chapter 15 offense under the Section 1-1-13 general penalty: a first offense draws a forfeiture of $1.00 to $5,000.00 plus prosecution costs, escalating to up to six months' default jail time for a repeat offense within a year. A permit holder also remains personally liable under Section 15-2-53(A) for loss, damage or injury the park board or a third party suffers through the permit holder's negligence, independent of any ordinance penalty.

This is one of the stricter rules in Ashwaubenon's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

The Bottom Line

Ashwaubenon is tougher than many cities when it comes to special events & permits. Out of the 2 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Ashwaubenon, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

These rules come from Ashwaubenon's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.