Hemet, CA Special Events & Permits: Parade Permits (2026)

Chapter 66's Article V defines a 'parade' broadly in section 66-121: any parade, march, ceremony, show, exhibition, pageant, procession, rally, demonstration, or similar display in or upon any street, park, or other outdoor place owned or controlled by the city. Section 66-122 exempts only two things from the whole article: funeral processions supervised by a licensed mortuary, and picketing or other orderly sidewalk processions that don't otherwise violate state or city law. Everything else needs a permit under section 66-123, and the process runs through the city manager, not a counter application: section 66-124 requires a written request to the city manager, who can demand a police certificate of compliance, and section 66-125 sends every request to the chief of police for a recommendation on time, place, manner, and whether to grant it, with reasons.

Section 66-126 gives the city council 30 days from a complete application to rule, granting, denying, or approving with conditions, weighing public health and safety, traffic circulation, adequate police protection, whether the parade risks harm to participants or the public, whether it's really for private gain rather than the general welfare, whether there's enough lead time to protect the public interest, and whether the applicant has adequate liability insurance. Section 66-127 requires paying the permit fee set by local law before issuance. If the route crosses a state highway, section 66-128 layers on a separate CalTrans permit, including state highway patrol approval and its own fees. Section 66-129 makes any violation of a permit's terms grounds for immediate revocation, and section 66-130 lets the police chief temporarily close streets for a parade when necessary for public safety.