Clay County, MO Special Events & Permits: Parade Permits (2026)

Clay County's traffic code, Sec. 21, makes it unlawful for a funeral, procession, or parade of 200 or more persons or 50 or more vehicles to occupy, march, or proceed along any road in the unincorporated county without authorization. The section exempts the forces of the United States Army or Navy, the military forces of Missouri, and the county's police and fire departments, which may move in any size formation without triggering the permit requirement. For every other group that exceeds the threshold, the ordinance puts the decision in the hands of the county traffic engineer, the office created and defined in Sec.

01 and staffed by the county highway administrator, who may issue a permit for larger funerals, processions, or parades when requested. That same office plans traffic operations on roads and highways in the unincorporated county and installs the control devices, signs, and barriers used to manage a large procession's route. Because the ordinance sits inside Chapter 70's traffic regulations rather than a stand-alone special-events code, applicants work through the county highway department rather than a separate events office, and the permit functions as a road-use authorization tied to the procession's size rather than a general event license.

Processions below the 200-person or 50-vehicle threshold are not addressed by this section and do not require the permit. Chapter 70 was rewritten in its entirety by Ord. No. 2005-ORD-33, adopted July 25, 2005, replacing the county's prior 1995 and 2000 traffic ordinances.