Clark County, IN Special Events & Permits: Parade Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit authority
- County Sheriff
- Exempt processions
- Funeral, military, Sheriff/fire department
- Base fine
- Up to $100
- Third offense in a year
- Up to $1,000 or 90 days jail
- Early-pay option
- $25 to County Clerk within 5 days
- Scope
- Unincorporated county roads only
Summary
Clark County requires a permit from the County Sheriff before any parade or procession may occupy, march or proceed along a county road. Only funeral processions, U.S. armed forces, state military forces, and the Sheriff's or fire department's own personnel are exempt. Organizers who proceed without permission face traffic-code penalties.
(B) When permits are required for parades and processions. No procession or parade except funeral processions, the United States armed forces, the military forces of this state and the forces of the County Sheriff and fire departments shall occupy, march or proceed along any road, except in accordance with permission issued by the County Sheriff and such other regulations as are set forth which may apply.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2019 S-0: Code: Local legislation current through Ordinance 31-2014, passed 12-18-2014).
Full Breakdown
13(B) of the county's traffic code, part of Chapter 70 (Traffic Code) adopted by Ordinance 7-1983 on December 20, 1983, governs any procession or parade that wants to occupy, march or proceed along a road in unincorporated Clark County. The rule is a blanket prohibition with a short exemption list: funeral processions, the United States armed forces, the military forces of Indiana, and processions organized by the County Sheriff's office or a county fire department may proceed without separate authorization. Every other group, civic parade, protest march, charity walk or community procession, needs permission issued by the County Sheriff before stepping onto a county road, and must also follow such other regulations as are set forth which may apply once that permission is granted.
The code does not spell out an application form, fee schedule or lead time for the Sheriff's permission, leaving the terms of approval to the Sheriff's office case by case. 99. This section applies only to the unincorporated area of the county; parades inside Jeffersonville, Charlestown or Clarksville are governed by those cities' own codes, not this county traffic code.
Violations & Fines
Violating § 70.13, including holding an unpermitted parade or procession on a county road, is punishable under § 70.99(A)(1)(a): a fine of up to $100 for a first or second offense within one year, rising to a fine of up to $1,000 or up to 90 days in jail, or both, for a third offense in that same one-year period. A person cited for a first or second offense may instead pay $25 within five days to the County Clerk for the Motor Vehicle Highway Account, avoiding a court appearance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Clark County require a permit for a parade on a county road?
Who is exempt from the parade permit requirement?
What happens if a parade proceeds without the Sheriff's permission?
Does this permit rule apply inside Jeffersonville or Clarksville?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Clark County
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