Tempe, AZ Special Events & Permits: Parade Permits (2026)

Section 19-43 makes it unlawful to conduct, or knowingly participate in, a parade or motorcade on any public street, sidewalk, or alley in Tempe without a permit from the Police Chief, or, on appeal, the Deputy City Manager/Chief Operating Officer. The Chief cannot issue a permit for a parade or motorcade proposed solely to advertise a product, good, or event for private profit. An organizer must apply in writing at least 30 days before the event; a late application can be denied outright. The application must give the applicant's and sponsoring organization's names, addresses, and phone numbers; the purpose, date, assembly point, disbanding point, route, and approximate start and end times; a description of the floats, marching units, vehicles, and bands, including any sound-amplification equipment; and anything else the Chief reasonably requires.

The Traffic Engineer reviews the application and recommends conditions before the Chief decides. The Chief must issue the permit unless the time, route, or size would unreasonably disrupt traffic, would require diverting so many officers that the rest of the City loses reasonable police protection, or would conflict with another already-permitted parade. Once issued, a permit specifies the assembly and start times, minimum and maximum speed, route, streets that may be occupied, unit spacing and maximum length, disbanding time and location, the number of monitors and vehicles, banner and placard size limits, a fire-retardant materials requirement for floats subject to Fire Medical Rescue Department review, and a requirement that sound trucks or bullhorns keep amplification fixed rather than variable.

The Chief must send a copy of any issued permit to the Traffic Engineer, the Fire Medical Rescue Department Chief, and the Deputy City Manager/Chief Operating Officer.