Buncombe County, NC Special Events & Permits: Parade Permits (2026)

Section 54-8 requires any individual, organization, corporation, association, society, fraternity, club, order or group wanting to use a county-owned or county-controlled public park for a rally, demonstration, march, public speech, public meeting or similar activity to submit a written request at least 72 hours before the intended use date. The permit requirement applies only when expected attendance exceeds 100 people, and no such assemblage may be held except during daylight hours. The application goes to the director of parks and recreation and must identify the organization's name and address, its principal officer, directors or governing body, and any other information the director needs to identify the group and the people running it, along with the requested date, hour and expected duration.

The director approves the request if it will not hinder or impede any regularly established park use and will not adversely affect the park's care, protection or maintenance or create a nuisance; otherwise the request must be denied. The section sits in Chapter 54, Parks and Recreation, alongside companion rules banning weapons in county parks (Sec. 54-10) and restricting alcohol on county property to permitted, designated areas (Sec. 54-11), both enforced under the chapter's general Class 3 misdemeanor penalty.