Port Townsend, WA Special Events & Permits: Parade Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit issuer
- Chief of police
- Applies to
- Any public right-of-way
- Application must state
- Date, time, route, responsible party
- Max penalty
- $1,000 fine / 90 days jail
Summary
Conducting a parade or demonstration on any Port Townsend public right-of-way is unlawful without a permit from the chief of police, who reviews the route, date, and time before issuing it.
It is unlawful to conduct any parade or demonstration of any sort on any public right-of-way in the city except upon a permit for such parade or demonstration having been issued by the chief of police as hereinafter provided.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 3364, passed May 18, 2026).
Full Breakdown
PTMC Chapter 10.36 covers parades and demonstrations, defined as traveling through the public right-of-way to make a public display. Under PTMC 10.36.020, no one may conduct a parade or demonstration on a city right-of-way without a permit from the chief of police. To get one, PTMC 10.36.030 requires a written application naming the responsible person or organization and stating the requested date, time, and route; the chief investigates the merits and, if satisfied, issues a parade permit fixing those terms. PTMC 10.36.040 bars anyone from joining a parade except with the permit holder's permission. Larger public events in the right-of-way can also trigger a separate special event permit under PTMC 17.60.
Violations & Fines
No standalone penalty is set in Chapter 10.36, so the code's general penalty applies: a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 fine and/or 90 days in jail, with each day counted separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who approves parade permits in Port Townsend?
Can I march in a parade I'm not officially entered in?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Port Townsend
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