Salt Lake City, UT Special Events & Permits: Parade Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit trigger
- Parades, festivals, 50+ participants
- Filing deadline
- 30 calendar days before event
- Late filings
- Denied if under 14 days out
- Insurance exemption
- Parades under one mile
- Penalty
- Class B misdemeanor
Summary
Salt Lake City requires a special event permit before any parade, festival, or similar entertainment event can use city streets or property, with applications due 30 days ahead and fees set by the city's consolidated fee schedule.
It is unlawful for any person, corporation, partnership, association, or other entity, public or private: A. To hold a special event without first obtaining a special event permit and paying the fees as required in this chapter; or B. To impede access to, or cause the closure of, any street or sidewalk in association with a special event without first obtaining a special event permit and paying the fees as required in this chapter.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-21: Code current through: Ord. 40-26, passed June 16, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Under city code chapter 3.50, a parade counts as an "entertainment event" and needs a special event permit if it draws 50 or more people or otherwise departs from normal street rules. Organizers must file with the events coordinator at least 30 calendar days before the event; applications filed fewer than 14 days out are denied absent a documented emergency. Permits require a nonrefundable fee plus payment of city support costs (police, fire, cleanup) and proof of liability insurance, though parades under one mile are exempt from the insurance requirement.
Violations & Fines
Holding a parade without a special event permit, or blocking a street for one without a permit, is a class B misdemeanor under § 3.50.140. Police may also disperse the event and cite staff or participants for related traffic, nuisance, or trespass violations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a short neighborhood parade need liability insurance?
Who reviews parade permit applications in Salt Lake City?
What happens if I hold a parade without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Salt Lake City
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Parade Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Salt Lake County handle parade permits.