Fall River, MA Special Events & Permits: Block Party Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Issued by
- Mayor, with Chief of Police approval
- Application must include
- route, date, start/end time
- Fee
- none
- Review factor
- traffic and police-staffing impact
Summary
Any parade, procession or lawful assembly that would occupy a Fall River street needs a written permit from the Mayor, approved by the Chief of Police, before it can close the road.
No person in charge of, and no person participating in, any parade, procession or lawful assembly shall permit it to occupy or march on any street to the exclusion or interruption of other persons in their individual right and use thereof, ... unless a written permit therefor is given by the Mayor with the approval of the Chief of Police. ... the Mayor, with the approval of the Chief of Police, shall issue such permit to the person, society or organization making application therefor, without a fee or charge.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4739915; v14 updated 2025-12-23; through 12-23-2025).
Full Breakdown
City Code § 66-63 requires anyone organizing a parade, procession or lawful assembly, the mechanism the City uses for events that would occupy or block a street, including neighborhood gatherings, to apply in writing to the Mayor with the route, date, start and end times, and the organizing group named. The Chief of Police reviews the application for traffic and police-staffing impact before the Mayor issues the permit, which carries no fee.
Violations & Fines
No permit-specific fine appears in § 66-63; unpermitted street occupation falls under the City's general penalty, § 1-15, up to $300 per offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to close a Fall River street for a block party?
Is there a fee for a parade or assembly permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fall River
Compare Fall River to another location·View the Massachusetts special events & permits overview
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