Spokane County, WA Special Events & Permits: Parade Permits (2026)

Spokane County Code § 6.14.040 opens with a flat prohibition: unless an agreement adopted by the board of county commissioners says otherwise, it is unlawful in any park to do any of thirteen listed things without first securing a permit or approval from the director or designee. Subsection (9) covers shows, festivals, fundraisers, carnivals, parades, or similar activities. Subsection (7) separately requires a permit to hold organized runs, walks, races, trials, or competitions, and subsection (10) requires one to reserve a portion of a park for exclusive use. A parade with vendors, a speaker and a collection can trigger several subsections at once: (1) covers a public address system or other sound amplifying device, (4) covers selling refreshments or merchandise, and (8) covers collecting fees or donations of any kind.

The director is the Director of the Spokane County Parks, Recreation, & Golf Department. Under § 6.14.030(12), a park means all parks, conservation areas, recreation centers, trails, paths, parkways, golf courses and recreation areas managed by that Department as part of the county system. Chapter 6.14 regulates that system, so a route that leaves the park falls outside what this chapter controls.

The permit decision is discretionary. If the director or designee finds that the safety, comfort, and convenience of the public's use of a park, or of an area adjacent to a park, would be unduly disturbed, the application can be denied or approved with restrictions. Because adjacent areas count, the effect on neighbors is part of the review. The director can also issue a permit for use of a park during hours when it is closed, and can issue permits for activities not listed in the section, which the county risk manager can approve.

Once a permit is granted, § 6.14.050 adds conditions. The holder must produce and exhibit the permit upon request, no person under the age of eighteen can sign for and obtain one, and the minimum age is twenty-one if alcohol is being consumed. Every permit holder must leave the facility in a condition the director or designee considers satisfactory. Alcohol is separately controlled by § 6.14.060, which lets the director allow an authorized group with a permit to serve, possess or consume alcohol where it is otherwise prohibited. Fireworks at a permitted function are allowed under § 6.14.070(8) only through a special event permit and only if handled by a licensed professional, and the public disturbance noise ban in § 6.14.070(16) excepts noise necessary for the permitted activity. Under § 6.14.120, where hours are not posted, no one can be present or leave vehicles parked in a park after 10:00 p.m., and a late night parking permit with fees set in the current adopted fee schedule covers activities after that hour. Chapter 6.14 itself prints no application fee, lead time or insurance amount for event permits.