West Covina, CA Special Events & Permits: Parade Permits (2026)

Section 19-131 requires a parade permit from the chief of police before any person may engage in, participate in, aid, form or start a parade, defined in Section 19-118 to include any parade, march, ceremony, exhibition, motorcade, walk-a-thon or similar procession on a street, park or public place. Funeral processions, school activities under staff supervision, and government agencies acting within their functions are exempt under Section 19-132. Applications go to the chief of police not less than 20 days nor more than 4 months before the event and must list the organizer, route, start and end points, expected number of participants, animals and vehicles, assembly points, and spacing between units; late filings may be accepted for good cause.

Applicants must cover the city's direct costs, deposited with the finance director at filing, and must submit a certificate of insurance naming the City of West Covina as additional insured at $1,000,000 CSL/CGL or as the risk manager otherwise specifies. Under Section 19-134 the chief of police must issue the permit unless the parade would substantially interrupt traffic, divert too many police officers or ambulances from normal service, interfere with firefighting response, provoke disorder, or exist purely for private profit or product advertising. A denial must state reasons in writing; an aggrieved applicant may appeal to the city council within 10 days, with a public hearing held within 30 days and a written decision within 15 days of that hearing (Sec. 19-135, 19-136). The chief of police may also revoke a permit for violating the issuance standards or permit conditions (Sec. 19-139).