Springfield, IL Special Events & Permits: Parade Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Advance notice required
- 24 hours
- Approving official
- Chief of police
- Funeral exemption
- No notice required
- Commercial solicitation parades
- Prohibited outright
- Temporary rule cap
- 90 days
Summary
Anyone organizing a parade, procession or assembly on Springfield streets, other than a funeral, must notify the chief of police at least 24 hours in advance and get approval. Commercial-solicitation parades are flatly prohibited regardless of notice.
No persons or groups, except those associated with funerals, shall organize or take part in any parade, procession, or assemblages on the public streets within the city without notification to and the approval of the chief of police at least 24 hours in advance of the parade, procession, or assemblage. The chief of police, after consultation with the city traffic engineer, or his designee, as is necessary, shall approve, prohibit, or regulate any parade, procession, or assemblage. No parade, procession, or assemblage may be prohibited because of its purpose, the group sponsoring it, the religious belief, or political ideology expressed by the assemblage, except that any parade or assemblage designed to solicit business for a commercial enterprise is prohibited.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 82).
Full Breakdown
26(a) requires notification to and approval from the chief of police at least 24 hours before any parade, procession, or assemblage takes place on the city's public streets, exempting only groups associated with funerals. 26(b), the chief of police, consulting the city traffic engineer as needed, decides whether to approve, prohibit, or regulate a given event, and the ordinance bars content-based denial: no parade, procession or assemblage may be prohibited because of its purpose, sponsoring group, or the religious or political views it expresses. The one categorical exception is commercial: any parade or assemblage designed to solicit business for a commercial enterprise is prohibited outright, with no case-by-case discretion.
26(c) lets the chief of police set reasonable guidelines to protect the public's use of the roadways, and lets the city traffic engineer temporarily prohibit or restrict street parking for the event, provided signs or other notice inform the public of the special restriction. 25.
Violations & Fines
Holding a parade, procession, or assembly without the required 24-hour advance notice and chief-of-police approval is a violation enforceable like other traffic-code offenses processed under Chapter 82; the chief of police may also deny or halt any event organized to solicit business for a commercial enterprise regardless of notice given.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far in advance must I notify Springfield police before a parade?
Can Springfield deny a parade because of its political message?
Can the city close parking for a parade route?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Springfield
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