Pierce County, WA Special Events & Permits: Parade Permits (2026)

Chapter 18A.40 PCC governs temporary events, expressly listing parades, runs, races, and rallies as covered activities. Under PCC 18A.40.010, the Chapter applies once an event is expected to gather 150 or more people at once, disrupt normal use of a public facility or right-of-way, or require added fire, police, traffic, or crowd-control service; exemptions cover funeral processions, legally required assemblies, and events on school or public park grounds (PCC 18A.40.020). Applications go to Planning and Public Works (PPW) at least 90 days before the first event day, and no approval can issue to anyone under 18 or be transferred without PPW's consent (PCC 18A.40.040).

Every application to hold a parade, motorcade, run, or assembly in the public right-of-way is specifically routed to PPW for review, and the Fire Marshal, Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, Finance Department, and Sheriff each review the plans (PCC 18A.40.060). The Sheriff decides whether traffic control and crowd protection are adequate, and the applicant must pay for any deputy sheriff services needed to keep order (PCC 18A.40.060.E). Events must shut down between 1 a.m. and 10 a.m. unless PPW approves different hours, and no project site can host events for more than 90 total calendar days a year (PCC 18A.40.070.A).

Before approval, Pierce County Finance requires Commercial General Liability insurance, generally at least $1 million per occurrence with a $2 million aggregate, naming the County as additional insured, plus Workers' Compensation coverage if the applicant has paid staff (PCC 18A.40.100).