Hawthorne, CA Special Events & Permits: Parade Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit issuer
- Chief of police
- Filing window
- 30-90 days before parade
- Decision deadline
- 8 days after filing
- Appeal deadline
- 5 days after denial
- Civil fine range
- $100-$1,000 per violation
Summary
Hawthorne bans parades on public streets without a chief-of-police permit, applied for 30 to 90 days ahead, and gives police broad discretion to grant, deny, reroute or condition the event to protect traffic, fire and ambulance access.
No person shall engage in, participate in, aid, form or start any parade, unless a permit to do so has been obtained from the chief of police, and unless such permit is carried by the person heading or leading such activity; provided, however, that the provisions hereof shall not apply to funeral processions, nor to students of the schools going to and from classes or when constituting a part of their educational activities and under the immediate direction and supervision of the proper school authorities, nor to any governmental agency within the scope of its functions.
Full Breakdown
020 makes it unlawful to engage in, participate in, aid, form or start any parade unless a permit has been obtained from the chief of police, exempting funeral processions, students traveling to and from school activities, and government agencies acting within their functions. 030, applications must be sworn and filed with the chief of police not less than 30 days nor more than 90 days before the event, disclosing the organizer, route, start/end points, assembly locations and times, spacing between parade units, and the number and type of persons, animals and vehicles involved.
050 upon finding the parade won't substantially interrupt traffic, won't divert an excessive number of police officers or ambulances from normal city service, won't interfere with firefighting access, isn't likely to cause injury, will move without stopping, and isn't held solely to advertise a product or for private profit. 060 requires the permit itself to state the starting time, minimum and maximum speed, spacing, street portions to be occupied, and maximum parade length. 080). 140 additionally bans smoking at all parades and parade routes, requiring posted no-smoking signs.
Violations & Fines
Under § 9.38.150, remedies are cumulative: a violation is subject to a civil action brought by the city attorney with a civil fine of not less than $100 and not more than $1,000 per violation, or may instead be prosecuted as an infraction or misdemeanor at the city attorney's discretion, with each day a separate offense and any violation declared a public nuisance. Separately, occupying a reserved disabled-observation point without authorization is an infraction punishable by a fine of at least $50 under § 9.38.120.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far ahead must I apply for a Hawthorne parade permit?
What can I do if my parade permit is denied?
Are school groups or funerals exempt from the parade permit rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hawthorne
California rules heatmap·Compare Hawthorne to another location·View the California special events & permits overview
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Parade Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle parade permits.