Concord, NC Special Events & Permits: Parade Permits (2026)

Section 50-250 defines "parade" broadly: any athletic event, ceremony, pageant, march, picket, procession, motorcade or similar activity involving persons, animals, vehicles or things proceeding along a sidewalk or street in a way that interferes with normal vehicular or pedestrian traffic flow. Under § 50-252(a)-(b), no parade is permitted anywhere in the city without a permit first obtained from the chief of police, and the organizer must file an application on city forms naming a responsible on-site planner and manager, the route from starting point to ending point, anticipated participants, vehicles and animals, and any sound or display equipment.

The chief of police decides whether additional police officers or EMS staffing are reasonably necessary, weighing factors like the size and duration of the parade, whether streets must be closed, expected weather, and the likely need for emergency response, all without regard to the content of the parade's speech, under § 50-253(a). If extra protection is deemed necessary, § 50-253(b) puts the cost on the applicant, who must hire and pay for it or reimburse the city; that duty becomes a condition of the permit.

Section 50-253(c) exempts parades conducted primarily for speech protected under the First Amendment from having to pay for that extra protection. The chief must issue a written decision within three business days of a complete application, and at least 24 hours before the parade, per § 50-256. A denial can be appealed in writing to the city manager's office within ten business days under § 50-258, triggering a quasi-judicial hearing within five business days where the chief carries the burden of proof.