Royal Oak, MI Special Events & Permits: Parade Permits (2026)

Chapter 312, the Special Event Ordinance, adopted December 14, 1992 and rewritten in its entirety February 13, 2023 by Ordinance No. 2023-01, defines a 'special event' as anything outside the normal course of business that has not otherwise received City approval and that can reasonably be expected to exceed a building's interior capacity as set by the State Fire Safety Board, or to block, close or significantly hinder or impair vehicular or pedestrian traffic on a street, road or public right-of-way. Section 312-3(A) makes it unlawful to stage or hold such an event without first obtaining a permit from the City Clerk.

Section 312-4 sets the application process: an applicant must file at least 30 days before the event on a City-provided form, pay a nonrefundable investigation fee set by City Commission resolution and renewed annually, and disclose the event's description, expected attendance, start and end times including setup and cleanup, plans for parking, security, crowd control, traffic control, sanitation and noise, whether music or amplification will be used, and whether alcohol will be served. The City Clerk refers the application to the Chief of Police and other necessary City employees for investigation, and the findings go to the City Manager and City Clerk.

Section 312-3(B) additionally bars any special event permit for rooftop use during the Woodward Dream Cruise and the two weeks immediately before it, and permits for the Woodward Dream Cruise itself require 60 days' notice under § 312-5 instead of the standard 30.