Goodyear, AZ Special Events & Permits: Parade Permits (2026)

Chapter 26 of the Goodyear City Code, the Special Event Ordinance, governs parades in the city. Section 26-1-2(N) defines a PARADE as a procession of pedestrians, vehicles, or animals traveling in unison along a street, organized to attract public attention and interfere with the normal flow of traffic, excluding funeral processions. Because a parade meets the code's Special Event definition, Section 26-1-3 makes it unlawful to hold one without first obtaining a Special Event Permit from the City Clerk. Applications go through the Special Event Review Committee, which includes code enforcement, planning and zoning, fire, traffic operations, streets, and police, and must be filed at least 45 calendar days before the event, 90 days if the parade closes streets involving one other jurisdiction, or 180 days if it crosses two or more jurisdictions.

Under Section 26-2-2, the City Clerk must deny an application that would substantially interrupt safe pedestrian and vehicular traffic, exceed fire-code venue capacity, or unreasonably tax public safety staffing, and may deny one over a history of complaints or unpaid City debts. The City Traffic Engineer may prohibit or restrict parking along a parade route, but must post signs before that restriction is enforceable. Permit conditions can require off-duty police for traffic control, barricades, insurance up to $5,000,000 per occurrence for events using fireworks or open flames, and payment of all City costs.

A denial, a permit condition, or a revocation can be appealed in writing to the City Manager within five business days, and a decision issues within ten business days.