Bowling Green, KY Special Events & Permits: Parade Permits (2026)

City Code Sec. 22-5.01 makes it unlawful for any person to stage, present or conduct any special event without first obtaining a permit, unlawful to knowingly participate in an unpermitted special event, and unlawful for a permit holder to knowingly violate any permit condition; funeral processions and governmental agencies acting within their functions are exempted. Sec. 22-5.02 requires an application filed with Community Engagement Division not less than sixty calendar days before the proposed event, though that office may waive the minimum filing period. Under the definitions preceding this Subchapter, a 'Parade' means any parade, march, ceremony, show, exhibition, pageant or procession of persons, animals or vehicles in a street, sidewalk, park or public place that interferes with the normal flow of traffic, and a 'Special Event' expressly includes parades, fairs, festivals, foot runs, bicycle runs and block parties.

Sec. 22-5.03 directs the City to issue a permit when the event will not substantially interrupt safe traffic flow or unreasonably burden public safety staffing, and Sec. 22-5.04 requires the City to deny a permit if the applicant supplies incomplete or false information. A denied applicant may appeal to the City Manager under Sec. 22-5.05 by filing written notice with the Office of City Clerk within seven business days, and the City Manager must act on the appeal within seven business days of receipt. Sec.

22-5.11 lets Community Engagement Division require a deposit to cover cleanup and property damage, refundable within thirty working days, and Sec. 22-5.12 charges permittees for police services at 100% of established cost (50% for local nonprofits and schools), while thirteen named recurring events, including the Veterans Parade, Christmas Parade and Corvette Homecoming Parade, are grandfathered as exempt so long as their police-service costs do not significantly increase.