Marathon County, WI Special Events & Permits: Parade Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Citation
- Marathon County Code § 12.04
- Trigger
- 5,000+ attendees
- Apply by
- 40 business days ahead
- Insurance
- $2,000,000 liability minimum
- Fine range
- $1,000–$25,000 per violation
Summary
Any gathering of 5,000 or more people in Marathon County's unincorporated area, including parades, races, and festivals, needs an Assembly Permit from Conservation, Planning and Zoning, filed at least 40 business days ahead.
Applicability. This ordinance shall be in effect in all unincorporated areas of the County. ... No person shall permit, hold, undertake, maintain, manage, or conduct an event with an actual or reasonably anticipated assembly of 5,000.00 or more attendees at any one time, or in aggregate over the course of eight consecutive hours, without first obtaining a valid Assembly Permit from the Conservation, Planning, and Zoning Department as outlined in this section, application for which must be made at least 40 business days in advance of the proposed assembly.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 59).
Full Breakdown
County Code § 12.04 requires anyone holding an event with an actual or reasonably anticipated assembly of 5,000 or more attendees at once, or in aggregate over eight hours, to obtain an Assembly Permit from the Conservation, Planning, and Zoning Department, applied for at least 40 business days in advance. The rule applies only in the county's unincorporated areas and covers accessory sites such as start/finish lines and staging areas: language that reaches parades and races as well as festivals. Applicants must document parking, water, toilets, security, medical, and fire plans, plus $2,000,000 in liability insurance, and cover any extraordinary-service costs the County incurs.
Violations & Fines
Violations, including holding an unpermitted qualifying assembly, are treated as a public nuisance and can draw a fine of $1,000 to $25,000 per violation, with each day counted separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a small parade in my town need this permit?
Does this apply inside Wausau or Rothschild?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Marathon County
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