Minnehaha County, SD Special Events & Permits: Parade Permits (2026)

Section 20 of Ordinance MC8-85 requires a written permit from the Park Board before any parade, procession, band, military display, entertainment, exhibition or public meeting is allowed in a Minnehaha County park. The permit has to authorize and describe the activity; there is no self-executing right to hold a march or public gathering in a county park without it. Section 17 supplies the standard the Board applies to every permit request under the ordinance, including parade and assembly applications: the activity cannot unreasonably interfere with public health, welfare, safety or recreation; it cannot be reasonably expected to invite violence, crime or disturbance of the peace; it cannot create unusual, extraordinary or burdensome expense or law enforcement demand for the County; and the facility must not already be reserved for another use at the requested day and hour.

If a permit is granted or refused, Section 16's notice procedure applies across the ordinance's permit sections, so both the sheriff and the applicant are informed of the Board's decision. The Board can revoke a permit already issued if the event violates any rule, law or ordinance, or for good cause shown. Related park rules layer on top of the parade permit: Section 18 requires separate Board authorization, requested at least 20 days ahead, to sell anything in a park, which matters for parade vendors, and Section 15 lets the Board charge and post fees for facility use.

Because Section 20 sits in the county park ordinance, it governs assemblies inside county park property; it does not reach parades on county roads outside park boundaries, which fall under separate traffic authority.