DRMC chapter 49 article III and Office of Special Events (OSE) rules require parade permits at least 60 days before the event for any procession on public streets. OSE coordinates with police, fire, DOTI, and parks for traffic and safety review.
Denver's Office of Special Events (OSE) administers parade and procession permits under DRMC chapter 49 article III. Applicants submit a permit at least 60 days before the event date, including route map, security/medical plan, $1-2 million general liability insurance, and fees scaled to event size. OSE convenes Denver Police, Fire, DOTI traffic engineering, and Parks for joint review. Spontaneous demonstrations are protected by the First Amendment and don't strictly require a permit, but planned parades using streets do. Marquee events like the MLK Marade, St. Patrick's Day Parade, Pride Parade, and Cinco de Mayo follow streamlined renewal. Police hire requirements scale with crowd estimate. Late applications are accepted only at OSE's discretion.
Holding a parade without a permit violates DRMC §49-83 with fines up to $999 plus officer shutdown orders. Liability for damages or injury falls on organizers; future applications may be denied. Misrepresenting attendance can revoke permit mid-event.
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