Nashua, NH Special Events & Permits: Parade Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 88-17, Chapter 88 Amusements
- License required for
- parades, processions, open-air public meetings
- Issuing office
- City Clerk
- Required filings
- insurance, site plans, surety bond
- Max general penalty
- $1,000 per day (§ 1-12)
Summary
Nashua requires a license before any parade, procession, or open-air public meeting on a public street, with the City Clerk demanding insurance, site plans, and a surety bond as conditions of approval.
No showman, musician, entertainer, disc jockey, comedian, tumbler, dancer, ventriloquist, magician, circus, carnival, or concert shall for pay perform or be performed in this City, and no parade or procession upon any public street and no open-air public meeting shall be held without a license therefor specifying the time and object for which such license is granted.
B. No license shall be granted until the applicant therefor shall file the following with the City Clerk:
(1) Insurance Requirements. The applicant must obtain and maintain, during operations under the license, insurance coverage as deemed appropriate by the Risk Manager. All certificates of insurance must reflect that the City of Nashua is named as an additional insured on all liability policies and that there will be 30 days written notice of cancellation or material change in coverage. All certificates of insurance must be submitted to the City as proof of insurance. Termination or reduced limits of insurance will void the license.
(2)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4805762; v29 updated 2026-02-10; through 02-10-2026).
Full Breakdown
Nashua Revised Ordinances § 88-17 bars any parade or procession on a public street, or open-air public meeting, without a license specifying its time and purpose. Applicants must file proof of insurance naming the City as additional insured, site plans showing compliance with the applicable building, health, and land-use chapters, a health officer recommendation on sanitary facilities, and a surety bond covering police, fire, cleanup, and other event costs. The Board of Aldermen's aldermanic committee can impose added conditions, and license denials, suspensions, or revocations may be appealed to the Personnel/Administrative Affairs Committee within 10 days.
Violations & Fines
No specific penalty is set for this article; violators face Nashua's general penalty under § 1-12: a fine up to $1,000 per day and/or citation, with each day a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a parade in Nashua?
What does the parade license application require?
What happens if I hold a parade without a license?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Nashua
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Parade Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle parade permits.