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Bend, OR Special Events & Permits: Parade Permits (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Parade defined
10+ people or 3+ vehicles
Special event defined
150+ people gathering
New event lead time
90 days
Repeat event lead time
60 days
Downtown closures cap
3/month Jul-Aug, 2/month otherwise
Enforcement
City special event permit + Council review

Summary

In the City of Bend, a parade, defined as a procession of 10 or more people or three or more vehicles, needs a City special event permit under Bend Code § 7.40.010(A), filed 90 days ahead for a new event, with downtown street-closure events capped at two or three per month.

D. Parade means a procession of persons using the public right-of-way and consisting of 10 or more persons or three or more vehicles, with the exception of funeral processions. ... A. ... Special events are prohibited without a City special event permit. B. No more than three special events per month requiring a street closure are allowed in the district during July and August. No more than two events per month requiring a street closure are allowed at any other time. ... C. ... For parades, the application shall also include the route of the parade and assembly points, the proposed starting and ending time and the estimated number of participants (persons, vehicles and animals). The City may deny parade permits to avoid impact on transportation, businesses and public infrastructure projects.

Full Breakdown

005(E) as any gathering of more than 150 people open to the public on City property or right-of-way. 010(D) requires the application to be filed at least 90 days ahead for a new event or 60 days ahead for a repeat event, with a mandatory pre-application conference for any event the City has not previously approved; the City Manager can waive the deadline only for good cause. 010(B) caps street-closure events at three per month in July and August and two per month the rest of the year, though the Council can approve additional events if the closure is limited and the public benefit outweighs the impact on downtown businesses.

020(C): the applicant must submit the parade route, assembly points, proposed start and end times, and the estimated number of participants, whether people, vehicles, or animals, and the City can deny a parade permit outright to protect transportation, area businesses, or public infrastructure projects. 40 filed at least 90 days out, with Oregon Department of Transportation approval if a state highway is involved.

Violations & Fines

Holding a parade or other special event without a permit violates BC 7.40.010(A), and the City may suspend or revoke an issued permit under BC 7.40.075(D) for violating chapter requirements, breaching a permit condition, or to protect public health and safety. Throwing objects to onlookers during a parade also violates BC 7.40.040(E).

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Bend require a permit for a parade?
Yes. BC 7.40.010(A) prohibits any special event, and BC 7.40.005(E) defines 'special event' to include parades, meaning any procession of 10 or more people or three or more vehicles under BC 7.40.005(D) needs a City special event permit before it can use Bend's streets or rights-of-way.
How far ahead must a Bend parade permit be filed?
BC 7.40.010(D) requires a new event's application at least 90 days before the event, or 60 days for a repeat event, plus a pre-application conference for any event not previously approved by the City; only good cause lets the City Manager waive that deadline.
Can Bend deny a parade permit?
Yes. BC 7.40.020(C) lets the City deny a parade permit outright to avoid impacts on transportation, businesses, or public infrastructure projects, on top of the route, assembly point, timing, and participant-count information every parade application must include.

Sources & Official References

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