Stratford, CT Special Events & Permits: Parade Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit issuer
- The Mayor, at his discretion
- Application deadline
- At least 10 days before the first day of the event
- Insurance
- At least $1,000,000, liability and property damage, naming the Town
- Police contact
- At least five days before the first day
- Police cost payment
- At least 48 hours before the first day
- Fee change
- Not effective until 120 days after Council action
Summary
In the Town of Stratford, Connecticut, an event on public property that charges an entrance fee, or whose sole purpose is selling items, needs a permit from the Mayor. The application goes in at least 10 days before the first day with a Council-set fee, and the organizer pays for the police officers the Chief of Police requires.
A. Any person or organization who or which intends to use public property at which the person or organization intends to charge a fee for entering the property to attend an event or who or which intends to offer for sale any item to the public and the sale of such item or items is intended to be the sole purpose of the use of the property, such person or organization shall file an application for a permit to conduct such event with the Mayor along with an application fee to be set by the Council. ... This fee must be submitted at least 10 days prior to the first day of the event. ... B. The person or organization shall, at least five days before the first day of the event, contact the Chief of Police, who shall inform the person or organization of the number of police officers which will be required for the event. The person or organization shall be responsible for payment of the expenses of the officers which are required to be present.
Full Breakdown
Stratford Code § 116-23, amended 3-12-2007 by Ord. No. 07-03, is the Town's permit for events on public property with entrance fees or sales. It covers a person or organization that intends to charge a fee for entering the property to attend an event, or intends to offer any item for sale to the public where the sale is the sole purpose of the use. The code text read for this page contains no separate parade permit, so a parade or march without an admission charge or sales falls under the plain 48-hour notice to the Chief of Police in § 116-22.
The application goes to the Mayor with an application fee set by the Council. A change in the fee does not take effect until 120 days after Council action. The fee must be submitted at least 10 days before the first day of the event. The application states the name, address and phone number of the person seeking use of the property, plus the organization's name, address and phone number when an organization applies. It also states the purpose of the event, the dates and time of day, and the number of people expected, and includes proof of insurance naming the Town of Stratford, its officers, employees and agents as named insured in an amount of at least $1,000,000, with both liability and property damage coverage. The Mayor issues the permit at his discretion after the Chief of Police or his designee gives notification.
Police staffing is built into the permit. At least five days before the first day of the event the organizer contacts the Chief of Police, who states how many officers the event requires. The organizer pays their expenses, calculated by the Town and paid at least 48 hours before the first day. If payment is not made, the Chief notifies the Mayor, who denies the permit until payment is made. If the cost runs over the estimate, the organizer pays the shortage within 48 hours of notification. If the payment exceeds the actual cost, the Town refunds the difference within 48 hours of notification, and never later than one week after the event ends.
Food or drink sellers working such an event on Town property also need approvals from the Police, Fire and Health Departments under § 116-17(E).
Violations & Fines
Section 116-23 prints no fine of its own. The enforcement lever is the permit: the Mayor denies it until police costs are paid, and the Mayor issues it only at his discretion. Vendors operating without the licenses and agreements the Town requires on Town property face $100 per day for each offense under § 116-17(B).
Frequently Asked Questions
Who issues special event permits for public property in Stratford, CT?
How much insurance does a Stratford event organizer need?
Who pays for police at a Stratford event?
Does Stratford require a permit for a parade with no admission fee?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Stratford
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