La Mesa, CA Special Events & Permits: Parade Permits (2026)

Chapter 10.50 treats a parade as its own category of special event, distinct from an Event like a street fair or block party, because it involves movement along a route rather than a fixed site. A gathering counts as a parade whenever persons, animals or vehicles march or process on a city street, sidewalk, alley or right-of-way in a way likely to obstruct, delay or interfere with normal traffic flow. The code carves out a narrow exemption: a parade of thirty or fewer pedestrians that stays on sidewalks and crosses streets only at marked crosswalks does not need a permit, provided the marchers cross in groups of ten or fewer and let vehicles pass between each group.

Any larger or street-marching parade must go through the same section 10.50.030 permit application as other special events, filed with the city clerk ninety days to two years ahead, but the application must additionally specify the assembly and dispersal locations and the exact route and staging plan, since the chief of police and city council weigh whether the parade can move from assembly to disbanding expeditiously without unreasonable stops. The city council or city manager may authorize closing the parade route under the Vehicle Code, and permits for parades of one thousand or more marchers require city council authorization rather than administrative approval by the city clerk.