Aliso Viejo, CA Special Events & Permits: Parade Permits (2026)

Chapter 11.05 of the Aliso Viejo Municipal Code defines a parade as a parade, procession, march, demonstration, motorcade, promenade or pageant of persons, animals or vehicles traveling in unison on a public street, sidewalk or other city property in a way that does not comply with normal traffic regulations or may impede the free use of that property. A public assembly is any group of 250 or more persons in an organized activity with a common purpose on a city street, park, parking facility, sidewalk or other public right-of-way. Both are special events, and so is any event of any size that requires a full or partial street closure.

Section 11.05.030 makes it unlawful to conduct, advertise, or sell or furnish tickets to a covered event in the City of Aliso Viejo without a valid permit. The city manager issues it, it cannot be moved to another venue or applicant, and a group planning more than one event in 12 months can file one annual application. Under section 11.05.060 the completed application is due at least 90 calendar days before the event, the city has five working days to tell the applicant it is incomplete, and the city manager must issue the permit within 10 working days of a completed application unless section 11.05.100 requires denial. The fee is set by council resolution, and an indigent natural person is excused from it.

Conditions can include an alternate assembly or disbanding area within the event routes the council has designated. Under section 11.05.140 no event requiring street closure can run on an arterial street from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. or 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekdays except holidays. Insurance of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence is required by section 11.05.150. An applicant can appeal a denial or condition by the third working day after notice, and the city council hears it within 14 days of filing.

A spontaneous event tied to news that broke fewer than 30 days earlier needs only 48 hours of written notice, and the city manager has 24 hours to deny it. Funeral processions, expressive activity such as lawful picketing that obeys traffic rules, and cul-de-sac block parties are exempt under section 11.05.040. Section 11.05.090(B) forbids the city from weighing the message or the identity of the applicant.