Evansville, IN Special Events & Permits: Parade Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Fee
- $5.00 to the City Controller
- Notice
- Minimum 24 hours before the parade
- Approving body
- Board of Public Safety
- Permit scope
- Valid only for date, hour, route
Summary
Evansville requires a $5.00 permit from the Board of Public Safety to hold or join a parade, with applications due at least 24 hours before the event and the permit valid only for the stated date, hour, and route.
No person, firm, organization, or group of individuals shall hold or participate in a parade in the City without first having obtained a permit therefor and paid a fee of $5.00 to the City Controller for the permit. The Board of Public Safety shall adopt regulations pertaining to parades and the application for permits therefor. On approval of the application by the Board of Public Safety and the payment of the fee, the permit shall be granted and shall be valid only for the date, hour, and route specified in the permit. No application shall be considered unless submitted to the Board of Public Safety a minimum of 24 hours prior to the scheduled time of the parade.
(B) The application, when presented to the Board of Public Safety, shall have attached thereto the endorsement of the City Controller that the fee has been paid. If the permit is denied, the City Controller shall refund to the applicant any fees paid hereunder.
(C) In the absence of a quorum of the Board of Public Safety, the Mayor shall sit as a temporary member for the purposes of this section. In the absence of the Mayor, the President of the Common Council shall sit, and in the absence of all members of the board, the Mayor and President of the Common Council, for the purposes of this section, may act as the temporary Board of Public Safety. [Ord. G-68-17, passed 6-17-68. 1962 Code § 305.04; 1982 Code § 96.13; 1983 Code § 9.96.13.]
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance G-2026-12, passed June 22, 2026).
Full Breakdown
EMC 12.05.180 requires anyone holding or joining a parade in the City of Evansville to get a permit from the Board of Public Safety and pay a $5.00 fee to the City Controller. Applications must reach the Board at least 24 hours before the parade, and an approved permit is valid only for the specific date, hour, and route it names -- not a blanket authorization to parade anywhere, anytime. If the board denies the application, the City Controller must refund the fee. In the Mayor's or board's absence, the Common Council President can sit as a temporary board member to act on parade permits.
Violations & Fines
Holding or joining an unpermitted parade, or parading outside the approved date, hour, or route, violates EMC 12.05.180 and is punishable under EMC 12.05.560's incorporation of the EMC 1.05.180 civil penalty, $10 to $2,500 per violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
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How far in advance must I apply for a parade permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Evansville
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