Mountain View, CA Special Events & Permits: Block Party Permits (2026)

Chapter 22, the city's Parade Ordinance under Sec. 1, defines "parade" in Sec. 2 to mean any parade, march, ceremony, show, exhibition, pageant, or procession of any kind, or any similar display in or upon a street, park, or other public place in the city, a definition broad enough to sweep in a neighborhood block party that closes or occupies a public street. Sec. 3 requires anyone who wants to engage in, participate in, aid, form or start such an event to first obtain a parade permit from the chief of police, with narrow exceptions for funeral processions, school-supervised student activities, and government agencies acting within their functions.

Sec. 4 sets the filing window: an application must be filed not less than 90 days nor more than one year before the event, except that parades exercising free speech or religious expression should file as soon as practicable and at least five days ahead absent good cause; the application must list the organizer, route, start and end points, expected number of people, vehicles or animals, and proposed hours. The chief of police must act within 7 days under Sec. 5, and a denial can be appealed to the city council within 5 days under Sec.

6, or the chief can offer an alternative date, time or route under Sec. 7 rather than an outright denial. Approval standards in Sec. 4(4) turn on whether the event will unreasonably disrupt traffic, divert too many police officers or ambulances from normal service, interfere with fire equipment access, or is merely a vehicle for private commercial advertising.