Springfield, OR Special Events & Permits: Parade Permits (2026)

Section 6.510 defines the trigger broadly: no one may engage in, participate in, aid, form or start a parade without a permit from the chief of police, and 'parade' under Section 6.505 covers any parade, march, foot race or walk, bicycle race, ceremony, show, exhibition, pageant or procession that would obstruct or impede ordinary pedestrian or vehicular traffic. Exemptions cover funeral processions, students on school-supervised activities, and government agencies acting within their own functions. Section 6.515 requires a written application at least 30 but not more than 90 business days before the event, with a nonrefundable fee set by council resolution and waived for indigent applicants who sign an oath of indigency.

The application must list the organizer's contact information, the date, route and assembly points, the number of people, vehicles and animals involved, start and end times, arrangements for traffic control, parking, fire suppression, restrooms and cleanup, and proof of liability insurance if obtained. Section 6.525 lets the chief deny a permit if the parade would unreasonably disrupt traffic, overextend police resources, conflict with another permitted event, or if the application contains false information, and requires a decision within 10 business days. Section 6.525 also lets the city manager bill the applicant an extraordinary personnel, materials and services charge for the city's added costs, which can be waived for qualifying nonprofit applicants.