Boise, ID Special Events & Permits: Parade Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required above
- 1,000 projected attendees
- Application window
- 45-365 days before setup
- Late application deadline
- 15 days before setup
- Insurance minimum
- $1,000,000 per occurrence
- Issuing body
- City Clerk / Special Events Team
Summary
Boise requires a planned special event permit for parades and other public-property events expected to draw over 1,000 people or need extra city resources.
No person shall conduct a planned special event on public property that is reasonably expected, based upon a good faith estimate of the projected attendance of more than one thousand (1,000) people, to require extraordinary resources without first obtaining a planned special event permit. ... Application for a planned special event permit shall be made to the City Clerk at least forty five (45) days, but not more than three hundred sixty five (365) days prior to commencement of set up activities...
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-31: Code current through: Ord. 20-26, passed 6-9-2026).
Full Breakdown
Under Boise City Code chapter 3-17, anyone conducting a parade, march, festival, or other planned special event on public property that's reasonably expected to draw more than 1,000 people, or to need extraordinary police, fire, or traffic resources, must get a planned special event permit from the City Clerk before proceeding. Applications go through the Special Events Team (SET), a multi-department review committee, and must be filed 45 to 365 days ahead of setup, with a $1,000,000 liability policy naming the City as additional insured. Street events that block vehicle traffic also need a separate citizen use permit. Events entirely on private property, or public events under 1,000 people that won't require extra resources, are exempt.
Violations & Fines
First violation is an infraction fined under BCC § 1-4-2; a second or later violation is a misdemeanor fined under BCC § 1-4-1, plus possible permit denial or revocation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a small private-property gathering?
What if my parade blocks a street?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Boise
Compare Boise to another location·View the Idaho special events & permits overview
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