Woodbury, MN Special Events & Permits: Parade Permits (2026)

City Code Sec. 20-43 makes it unlawful to engage in, participate in, aid, form or start any parade without a permit from the chief of police, and Sec. 20-42 defines a parade broadly as any parade, march, ceremony, show, exhibition, pageant, procession or similar display on a street, park or other public place. Under Sec. 20-44, the applicant must file with the chief of police 14 to 30 days before the event date, supplying the organizer's name, address and date of birth; sponsoring organization details if applicable; the date, route, starting and ending points and times; the approximate number of people, animals and vehicles involved; and the location of any assembly area.

Sec. 20-45 requires a permit fee set by council resolution, which the council may waive in whole or in part. Sec. 20-46 lists the standards the chief applies before issuing a permit: the parade cannot substantially interrupt safe traffic flow, cannot demand so many officers that normal police protection elsewhere suffers (and if extra officers are needed, the applicant is billed the actual cost before the permit issues), cannot crowd assembly points enough to interfere with fire, police or ambulance access, must not be likely to cause injury, property damage or provoke disorder, and must move from start to finish without unreasonable delay.

If the chief disapproves an application, Sec. 20-47 requires written notice within seven days, and Sec. 20-48 lets the chief offer an alternate date, time or route, which the applicant must accept in writing within three days. Sec. 20-49 authorizes revocation for failure to meet the issuance standards, Sec. 20-50 requires the parade chairman to carry the permit during the event, and Sec. 20-51 exempts funeral processions from the entire article.