Collierville, TN Special Events & Permits: Parade Permits (2026)

Section 92.10 defines a parade as an assembly of three or more persons traveling or marching in procession from one location to another to express feelings and beliefs on current political, religious, or social issues, and also covers races or walks involving ten or more persons. Engaging in, participating in, aiding, or commencing a pedestrian or vehicular parade on Town streets without a permit from the chief of police is an offense.

The filing deadline depends on size. A parade of more than 25 persons or more than three motor vehicles must apply not less than 72 hours ahead, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, though a late filing is not automatically denied if the applicant shows reasonable grounds. A parade of 25 persons or less and three motor vehicles or less must apply not less than 48 hours ahead. The application is signed and sworn before an officer authorized to administer oaths. It lists the applicant, the date and time, the commencement time, the specific route with starting and termination points, and the estimated number of participants, animals, riders, floats, motor vehicles, motorized displays, and marching units. The $25 fee is nonrefundable, but the chief of police can waive it on an affidavit of indigence.

The chief of police must approve or deny within three days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays. If the requested route interferes with the orderly flow of traffic, the chief can set a reasonable alternate route and regulate the width of the parade. A permit must be denied if the parade would begin during or within two hours after another permitted parade ends and pass within one-half mile of that route, or if it would unreasonably disrupt traffic with no reasonable means of rerouting. A permit must be revoked if the parade fails to begin within 30 minutes of the appointed time or if the application is false in any material detail.

No permit is needed for the armed forces, military forces of the state, and police and fire departments acting within their duties, for funeral processions, for a peaceful demonstration at a fixed location that is not a street, or for a sidewalk procession that follows traffic regulations and uses no more than one-half of the sidewalk.