Avondale, AZ Special Events & Permits: Parade Permits (2026)

Article V of Chapter 23 defines a parade as any parade, march or procession upon any street (Section 23-111) and makes it unlawful for anyone to engage in, participate in, aid, form or start one without a permit from the chief of police (Section 23-113). Section 23-112 exempts funeral processions, students traveling to or from school activities under staff supervision, and government agencies acting within their normal functions. An applicant files with the chief of police not less than 7 days nor more than 60 days before the event, though Section 23-114(c) lets the chief accept a late application where good cause is shown.

The application must disclose the organizer's and parade chairman's contact information, the date, route, starting and termination points, the approximate number of people, animals and vehicles, the hours of the parade, whether it will occupy the full street width, assembly locations and times, and the spacing to be kept between units (Section 23-114(b)). Section 23-115 directs the chief to issue the permit unless the parade would substantially disrupt traffic, divert too many police officers or ambulances from normal city coverage, interfere with fire equipment reaching a fire, likely provoke disorder or injury, fail to move without unreasonable delay, or exist solely to advertise a product for private profit.

A denial must be mailed within 3 days of filing (Section 23-116), and the chief may instead offer an alternate date, time or route, which the applicant must accept in writing within 5 days (Section 23-117). Every issued permit must state the starting time, minimum and maximum speed, spacing between units, the streets and maximum length covered, and any other condition the chief finds necessary (Section 23-118). The parade chairman must carry the permit during the event (Section 23-119), the chief may revoke a permit after a due-process hearing for failing the Section 23-115 standards (Section 23-120), and every permit holder must comply with all permit conditions and applicable laws (Section 23-121).