Pontiac, MI Special Events & Permits: Parade Permits (2026)

City Code § 114-301 defines a parade broadly: any parade, march, ceremony, show, demonstration, exhibition, pageant, procession or similar display on a city street, park or other public place. Under § 114-302, a permit from the chief of police is required before anyone engages in, participates in, aids, forms or starts a parade, though funeral processions, students traveling under school supervision, and government agencies acting within their functions are exempt. Applications go to the chief of police on his forms at least 14 days ahead under § 114-304, unless the chief waives the deadline, and must list the organizer's contact information, the parade chairman, the date, route, starting and ending points, number of people, animals and vehicles involved, assembly locations and times, and spacing between units.

A permit fee set by council resolution is due when the application is filed, per § 114-305. Under § 114-306, the chief must issue the permit unless the parade would substantially interrupt traffic, divert too many police officers or ambulances from normal city service, interfere with fire protection, or is reasonably likely to cause injury, provoke disorder or unreasonably delay its own route. The chief must act at least seven days before the proposed date and, if he denies the application, must notify the applicant within seven days with stated reasons under § 114-307; § 114-308 also lets him deny a permit when he has reason to believe planned advocacy will incite imminent lawless action.

A denied applicant can accept an alternate date, time or route within five days under § 114-309, or appeal to the city council within seven days, with council required to act within seven days of receiving the appeal per § 114-310. Once issued, the chief sends copies to the mayor, fire chief, public works director and affected transit operators under § 114-311, and the permit itself must state starting time, minimum and maximum speed, spacing between units, streets that may be occupied, and maximum parade length under § 114-312.

The chief may revoke a permit for failing the § 114-306 standards under § 114-314, and § 114-315 bars anyone from obstructing a parade in progress or driving between its units.