Harford County, MD Special Events & Permits: Parade Permits (2026)

Chapter 68, Assemblies, Mass Public, is Harford County's only special-event permit scheme, and it is written around concerts rather than parades, which do not appear anywhere in the county code. Section 68-3 makes it unlawful to hold, conduct or perform a concert before a gathering exceeding 2,000 spectators without a permit from the Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits, and any permit granted runs only for the concert's own dates, capped at 10 consecutive days. The owner of the property must pay a $500 permit fee when filing and post a cash bond of $1 per anticipated attendee, with a floor of $5,000, as finally determined by the Director.

Applications under § 68-4 must be filed 60 days before the concert and include site plans, crowd-control measures, medical facilities, water and sewage capacity, and the names of performers; the Department circulates the application to the Sheriff's Office, Public Works, Health Department, Fire Marshal, Planning and Zoning, and the Health Planning Commission, each of which reports back within 30 days. Health Department standards under § 68-5 require 3 gallons of potable water per person per day, one flush toilet per 100 attendees, and 27 cubic feet of solid waste collection capacity per 100 attendees daily.

The Director must grant or deny within 60 days and can deny only on specific grounds in § 68-6, such as inadequate parking, security, medical facilities or a performer's recent history of violence, or revoke a permit under § 68-7 for noncompliance, holding the bond for 30 days after the concert to cover cleanup and property damage. County government, the Board of Education and Harford Community College are exempt under § 68-8. Holding a concert without complying is a misdemeanor under § 68-9, punishable by up to $1,000 and 6 months in jail.