Prince George's County, MD Special Events & Permits: Parade Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permitting agency
- Director, Dept. of Public Works & Transportation
- Advance notice required
- 10 working days minimum
- Required submission
- Written request plus traffic control plan
- Emergency waiver
- Director may waive notice for emergencies
- Appeal path
- None; denial not reviewable by Board of Appeals
- Police authority
- Chief of Police sets parade traffic rules, Sec. 26-103(c)
Summary
Any parade, festival, or public event that requires closing a Prince George's County road needs written permission from the Director of Public Works and Transportation under Code Sec. 23-162. Organizers must file a written request with a traffic control plan at least 10 working days before the event, and the Director can deny or revoke the permit at will.
(a)No person, except as otherwise specifically permitted by law, shall close a County road without first obtaining the permission of the Director of Public Works and Transportation. An applicant seeking a road closure shall provide information to the Department of Public Works and Transportation in a format as determined by the Director of Public Works and Transportation. ... (d)A request from any person to temporarily close any road or any part thereof must be submitted in writing to the Department of Public Works and Transportation not less than ten (10) working days in advance of the date of the proposed closing. The Director of Public Works and Transportation may waive the ten (10) day notice requirement in cases of emergency beyond the control of the requester.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 2026 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
Prince George's County Code Sec. 23-162 governs the temporary closing of any County-maintained or public road, the mechanism organizers of parades, festivals, and other public assembly events use to route through public streets. Under Subsection (a), no one may close a County road without first securing the Director of Public Works and Transportation's permission, and the applicant must supply information in the format DPW&T specifies. Subsection (d) sets the filing window: a written request must reach DPW&T at least 10 working days before the proposed closing date, and must include an explanation of the event, the exact location and limits of the closing, the date, time and duration, a traffic control plan showing signs, barricades and alternate routes, and evidence that any property owner denied access has consented.
The Director can waive the 10-day window only for emergencies beyond the requester's control. Separately, Code Sec. 26-103(c) lets the Chief of Police adopt rules governing parking, traffic, and vehicle movement in the vicinity of any fair, game, parade, or other public event where a large gathering is anticipated, which is how PG County Police manages crowd and traffic control once a parade route is approved. Subsection (c) of Sec. 23-162 protects through traffic on primary, collector, and arterial roads unless the Director finds an acceptable alternate route or a short enough closure that inconvenience is minimal, and it guarantees continued legal access for residents along the route.
There is no separate 'parade permit' form: the road-closure request under Sec. 23-162 functions as PG County's event permit for any parade or public assembly using county streets.
Violations & Fines
Under Sec. 23-162(g), failing to comply with any condition of the written permission triggers immediate revocation, and DPW&T's Director can order the roadway restored to a safe condition and reopened to the public right away. Subsection (i) makes clear that if the Director denies a closure request or an extension, that denial cannot be appealed to the County's Board of Appeals, so organizers have no administrative review path for a rejected parade route.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Prince George's County issue a separate parade permit?
How far in advance must I request a road closure for an event?
Can Prince George's County deny my parade route request?
What happens if I violate the terms of my road-closure permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Prince George's County
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