Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup
Key FactsOrdinance TextFull BreakdownViolationsFAQSourcesMore in Arlington County

Arlington County, VA Special Events & Permits: Parade Permits (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Governing section
Arlington County Code § 11-32
Permit issuer
County Manager
License tax
$100.00 flat, circus street parade only
No street use
No license tax owed at all
Default penalty
Up to $2,500 fine or 30 days jail (§ 1-6)

Summary

Arlington County requires a permit from the County Manager before a circus can parade on county streets. Under County Code § 11-32, a circus or carnival that performs only on private grounds owes no license tax at all, but the moment its show moves onto public streets and highways as a circus street parade, a $100 flat license tax attaches and no license issues until the County Manager grants the parade permit.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Arlington County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

No license tax or fee is due from a circus or carnival performing on a temporary basis in the County, except if the streets and highways of the County are to be used for a circus street parade, in which case a license tax of one hundred dollars ($100.00) is due, and no such license shall be issued except after a permit for such parade has been obtained from the County Manager.

View official code

Full Breakdown

Section 11-32 sits in Chapter 11, Article II of the Arlington County Code, the chapter that governs all local business licensing. 00 license tax and a permit requirement. The Code is explicit that the tax and the permit are linked: no such license shall be issued except after a permit for such parade has been obtained from the County Manager, meaning the Commissioner of the Revenue cannot issue the license tax certificate until the County Manager's office signs off on the parade itself. D provides that a person who engages in business without the required license is not relieved of the tax and remains subject to Chapter 11's penalties.

00, imprisonment in the County Jail for up to 30 days, or both, and each day the violation continues counts as a separate offense. Arlington County has no incorporated towns, so this permit requirement, administered out of the County Manager's office, reaches every street and highway in the County.

Violations & Fines

Section 11-32 sets no penalty of its own, so the County Code's general penalty at § 1-6 governs: parading on Arlington's streets without the County Manager's permit, or without paying the $100.00 license tax, is punishable by a fine of up to $2,500.00, up to 30 days in the County Jail, or both. Each day the violation continues is treated as a separate offense under § 1-6.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Arlington County require a permit for a circus street parade?
Yes. County Code § 11-32 requires a permit from the County Manager before a circus street parade may use the County's streets and highways, and the license tax cannot be issued until that permit is obtained. A circus or carnival performing without using public streets owes no license tax under this section at all.
How much does the circus street parade license cost in Arlington County?
The license tax is a flat $100.00 under § 11-32, due only when the streets and highways of the County are used for the parade itself. Performances that stay off public streets, such as shows held entirely on private or fairground property, owe no license tax or fee under this section.
Who issues the parade permit, and who collects the tax?
The County Manager's office issues the permit for the circus street parade, and the Code makes that permit a precondition of the license: the Commissioner of the Revenue cannot issue the $100.00 license tax certificate under § 11-32 until the parade permit has already been granted.
What happens if a circus parades through Arlington County without the permit?
Section 11-32 does not set its own fine, so the Code's general penalty in § 1-6 applies: a fine of up to $2,500.00, up to 30 days in the County Jail, or both, with each day of the unlicensed parade counted as a separate offense.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Arlington County

Animal Ordinances: Dog Leash LawsSome RestrictionsParkletsSignificant RestrictionsStreet Fair RulesSignificant RestrictionsSidewalk Dining & CafésSignificant RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Exotic PetsHeavy RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: MicrochippingLight RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Breed RestrictionsSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Wildlife Rescue PermitsSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Cat RulesSome Restrictions

All Arlington County rules

Compare Arlington County to another location·View the Virginia special events & permits overview

Get notified when Parade Permits in Arlington County, VA changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.