Porterville, CA Special Events & Permits: Parade Permits (2026)

Porterville Municipal Code section 18-7 requires a permit from the chief of police, or the city council on appeal, before anyone conducts or joins a meeting, assembly or parade on the city's public streets, sidewalks, highways or parks. Parade applicants must file with the chief of police at least 20 days before the event, on a city-approved form disclosing the organizer's name and contact information, the parade chairman responsible for conduct, the purpose, date, start and end times, route, assembly and dispersal locations and times, expected number of participants and vehicles, and whether the parade will use all or only part of the streets traveled.

If the dispersal area falls in another jurisdiction that also requires a permit, the applicant must supply an alternate Porterville route. Where no earlier application covers the same time and place, the chief must issue the permit; where two applications conflict, the chief may deny the later one and must notify the applicant in writing, with reasons, at least 10 days before the proposed date. Meetings or assemblies (not parades) need only four days advance notice under section 18-7.2. Under section 18-7.3, the chief may refuse or require an alternate route, location or time after weighing effects on traffic, businesses, hospitals, churches, schools and public safety, in consultation with the city manager.

A denied applicant may appeal to the Porterville City Council within two days by filing with the city clerk, who calendars the appeal for the council's next meeting; the council may affirm, reverse or modify the chief's decision, and the chief must then act consistently with that judgment.