Waterbury, CT Special Events & Permits: Parade Permits (2026)

30 prohibits any street parade or procession that bears banners or other conspicuous devices, or that is accompanied by music or other disturbing sounds, unless permission is obtained first. The blanket prohibition in division (A) carves out only four exemptions: parades of the National Guard, the Police Department, the Fire Department, and funeral processions engaged in the burial of the dead. Everyone else, including community groups, civic organizations, political events and commercial promotions, must seek permission before stepping off. Division (B) places that permitting power with the Chief of Police, who may permit, under reasonable restrictions as appear necessary for the protection of health, safety or welfare of the public, any street parade or procession, but only after the organizer files a written application specifying the object of the parade, its time, and its route.

The section gives the Chief discretion both to grant or withhold permission and to impose conditions tailored to the specific route and event, rather than setting fixed hours, fees or crowd-size limits in the ordinance itself. The rule dates to 1967 Code section 13-12 and was last amended by an ordinance passed December 20, 1971, so the discretionary, written-application structure has stood essentially unchanged for more than five decades. There is no separate fee schedule cited in this section for the parade permit itself.