Blaine, MN Special Events & Permits: Parade Permits (2026)

Blaine City Code Section 70-27 defines 'special event' to include snowmobile races, athletic tournaments expected to draw 1,000 or more people, parades and races, picnics or civic celebrations expected to draw 150 or more people, carnivals, musical festivals, outdoor concerts, convoys of more than 200 vehicles or 25 commercial vehicles, park gatherings over 150 people, and events with six or more food trucks. Section 70-28 requires anyone promoting or conducting such an event to obtain a license from the city, with pre-license promotion or advertising counted against the applicant, and Section 70-31 sets the application deadline at 45 calendar days before the event, filed with the city clerk for approval by the city manager or a designee; the police chief may waive the deadline only on proof of extreme hardship.

A parade or race application must additionally state the assembly location, start and end times, route width, and the maximum spacing between units. Section 70-31(b) requires written consent from 60 percent of adjacent property owners or tenants unless the city council waives that requirement for events longer than three city blocks. Applicants must also carry public liability insurance naming the city as an additional insured, with minimums of $100,000.00 per person, $300,000.00 per occurrence, and $50,000.00 for property damage, plus an indemnity agreement. A review committee drawn from fire, police, community standards, parks and recreation, planning, and public works evaluates each application, and the police chief's recommendation is required before the city manager or designee issues the license; a denial can be appealed to the city council within 20 days. Violating the article, including holding an unlicensed parade, is a misdemeanor under Section 70-34, and a violator is barred from reapplying for two years.