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Bellingham, WA Special Events & Permits: Parade Permits (2026)

Some Restrictions

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

Key Facts

Permit required for: Parades, festivals, rallies obstructing right-of-way
Governing section: BMC 13.13.030 Permit - Required
Insurance minimum: $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate
Block party exemption: 300 or fewer, one block, 8 daylight hrs
Appeal window: 3 business days to mayor's office
Violation: Misdemeanor under BMC 13.13.120

Summary

Anyone organizing a parade, athletic event, festival, rally or other special event in Bellingham that obstructs a public street, sidewalk or right-of-way must get a special event permit under BMC 13.13.030 before the event. The permit covers safety review, city services, fees and insurance; violating the chapter is a misdemeanor under BMC 13.13.120.

“Parade” means any march or procession consisting of people, animals, bicycles, vehicles or combination thereof, except funeral processions, on any public street, sidewalk, alley or other public right-of-way, which obstructs, delays or interferes with the normal flow of pedestrian or vehicular traffic, or does not comply with traffic laws or controls. ... A. Any person or organization desiring to conduct or sponsor a special event in the city shall first obtain a special event permit from the city. B. If a proposed use or event would otherwise require both a right-of-way use permit under Chapter 13.14 BMC and a special event permit under this chapter, then the application shall be processed under this chapter and a right-of-way use permit under Chapter 13.14 BMC shall not be required.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2026-06-015, passed June 1, 2026).

Full Breakdown

13 BMC defines a "special event" as any planned occurrence in a "public place" (a city park, street, sidewalk, right-of-way or other city property) that is reasonably expected to have a substantial impact on that place or require substantial city services, and specifically includes parades, athletic events, festivals, concerts, rallies and protests. 020). 14 permit is required. Categorical exemptions cover funeral and wedding processions, school-supervised activities, government agencies acting within their functions, and park events needing no outside department review. 040). 060). 110).

Violations & Fines

Conducting an unpermitted parade or special event, or violating any permit condition, is a misdemeanor under BMC 13.13.120. The city may also summarily revoke a permit for disaster, riot or other emergency, for false application information, or when the permittee exceeds the permit's scope, with written notice delivered by personal service or certified mail (BMC 13.13.080). An applicant denied a permit, or hit with conditions they dispute, has three business days to request administrative review from the mayor's office, which must issue a written decision within five business days (BMC 13.13.060(C)).

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a small neighborhood block party need a Bellingham special event permit?

Yes, a permit is still required, but Bellingham waives the review fee, indemnification and insurance requirements if the block party draws 300 people or fewer, closes no more than one residential block (or an abutting sidewalk, alley or unopened right-of-way), and runs eight daylight hours or less with no need for police crowd control, per BMC 13.13.040(B)(2).

What counts as a parade under Bellingham's code?

BMC 13.13.020 defines a parade as any march or procession of people, animals, bicycles or vehicles, other than a funeral procession, on a public street, sidewalk, alley or right-of-way that obstructs, delays or interferes with normal traffic flow or does not comply with traffic laws or controls.

How much insurance does a Bellingham special event permit require?

BMC 13.13.100 requires general liability coverage naming the city as an additional insured, with minimum limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 in the aggregate, primary and noncontributory, with certificates submitted to the city 14 working days before the event.

Can I appeal if Bellingham denies my special event permit?

Yes. BMC 13.13.060(C) lets an applicant request administrative review of a denial or of conditions placed on a permit by filing written notice with the mayor's office within three business days; the mayor must issue a written decision within five business days.

Sources & Official References

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