Colusa County, CA Special Events & Permits: Parade Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Public events on public property
- Exempt from standard TUP
- Required approval
- Board of Supervisors or designee
- Assembly-facility events
- Also exempt (§44-4.80.020(E))
- Post-event duty
- Clear site of debris (§44-4.80.050(B))
- Extensions
- Not permitted (§44-4.80.060)
- Max penalty
- $5,000 fine / 6 months jail
Summary
Parades and other public gatherings on public property in unincorporated Colusa County skip the standard Temporary Use Permit but still need sign-off: Zoning Code Section 44-4.80.020(D) exempts 'public events and activities...conducted on public property' only 'as approved by the Board of Supervisors or its designees.'
44-4.80.020 Temporary Uses Exempt from Permits. ... The following temporary uses are permitted without the approval of a Temporary Use Permit: D. ... Public events and activities when conducted on public property as approved by the Board of Supervisors or its designees. E. An event on the site of, or within, a meeting hall, school, religious facility, theater, or other similar facility designed and approved by the county for public assembly.
Full Breakdown
010 that any temporary use needs a Temporary Use Permit. 020 then exempts specific categories from that permit, and subsection D covers 'public events and activities when conducted on public property as approved by the Board of Supervisors or its designees' - meaning a parade or public assembly on a county road, right-of-way, or other public land is not processed through the standard Temporary Use Permit track, but it is not unregulated either: it substitutes direct approval from the Board of Supervisors or a designee acting on its behalf.
050 imposes cleanup duties: the site must be cleared of debris, litter, and other trash upon expiration of the approval, and temporary structures must come down. 060 bars extending the approved time period 'unless otherwise permitted under this chapter,' so organizers cannot simply run past their approved dates. 020, handles day-to-day enforcement of these provisions alongside the sheriff's office and other county departments.
Violations & Fines
Holding a parade or public event on public property without the Board of Supervisors' or its designee's approval is an unpermitted temporary use, a misdemeanor under Section 44-1.130.030 punishable by a fine of up to $5,000, up to six months in jail, or both. Failing to clear the site of debris after the event under Section 44-4.80.050(B), or running the event past its approved dates in violation of Section 44-4.80.060, exposes the organizer to the same penalty and to nuisance abatement under Chapter 42.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Temporary Use Permit to hold a parade on a county road?
What must I do with the site after the event ends?
Can I extend an approved public event beyond its permitted dates?
What happens if I hold the event without Board approval?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Colusa County
California rules heatmap·Compare Colusa County to another location·View the California special events & permits overview
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