Larkspur Municipal Code Ch. 9.44 Parades

Sections: 9.44.010 Short Title. 9.44.020 Definitions. 9.44.030 Permit Required. 9.44.040 Application. 9.44.050 Standards for Issuance. 9.44.060 Notice of Rejection. 9.44.070 Appeal Procedure. 9.44.080 Alternative Permit. 9.44.090 Notice to City and Other Officials. 9.44.100 Contents of Permit. 9.44.110 Duties of Permittee. 9.44.120 Public Conduct During Parades. 9.44.130 Revocation of Permit.

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “City of Larkspur Parade Ordinance.” (Ord. 1094 § 12, 2026; Ord. 1030 § 2(7), 2018; Ord. 376 § 1 (part), 1969)

“City” means the City of Larkspur.

“City Manager” means the City Manager of the City of Larkspur, or their designee.

“Parade” means any parade, march, ceremony, show, exhibition, pageant, or procession of any kind, or any similar display, in or upon any street, park or other public place in the City.

“Parade permit” means a permit as required by this chapter.

“Person” means any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company or organization of any kind.

“Police Chief” means the Police Chief of the Central Marin Police Authority. (Ord. 1094 § 12, 2026; Ord. 1030 § 2(7), 2018; Ord. 376 § 1 (part), 1969)

No person shall engage in, participate in, aid, form or start any parade, unless a parade permit shall have been obtained from the City Manager.

A. Exceptions. This chapter shall not apply to:

1. Funeral processions;

2. Students going to and from school classes or participating in educational activities, providing such
conduct is under the immediate direction and supervision of the proper school authorities;

3. A governmental agency acting within the scope of its functions. (Ord. 1094 § 12, 2026; Ord. 1062 § 14,
2022; Ord. 1030 § 2(7), 2018; Ord. 376 § 1 (part), 1969)

A person seeking issuance of a parade permit shall file an application with the City Manager on forms provided by such official.

A. Filing Period. An application for a parade permit shall be filed with the City Manager not less than twenty (20) days nor more than one hundred twenty (120) days before the date on which it is proposed to conduct the parade.

B. Contents. The application for a parade permit shall set forth the following information:

1. The name, address and telephone number of the person seeking to conduct such parade;

2. If the parade is proposed to be conducted for, on behalf of, or by an organization, the name, address
and telephone number of the headquarters of the organization, and of the authorized and responsible heads
of such organization;

3. The name, address and telephone number of the person who will be the parade chairperson and who
will be responsible for its conduct;

4. The date when the parade is to be conducted;

5. The route to be traveled, the starting point and the termination point;

6. The approximate number of persons who, and animals and vehicles which, will constitute such parade;
the type of animals, and description of the vehicles;

7. The time when such parade will start and terminate;

8. A statement as to whether the parade will occupy all or only a portion of the width of the streets
proposed to be traversed;

9. The location by streets of any assembly areas for such parade;

10. The time at which units of the parade will begin to assemble at any such assembly area or areas;

11. If the dispersal area of the parade is located in another city, the location of such dispersal area, and if a
parade permit has not been issued by such other city, an alternate route and alternate dispersal area in the
City;

12. Any additional information which the City Manager shall find reasonably necessary to a fair
determination as to whether a permit should be issued.

C. Late Applications. The City Manager, where good cause is shown therefor, shall have the authority to consider any application hereunder which is filed less than twenty (20) days before the date such parade is proposed to be conducted.

D. Fee. A fee, as established by resolution, shall be paid at the time of filing the application for a parade permit. (Ord. 1094 § 12, 2026; Ord. 1062 § 14, 2022; Ord. 1030 § 2(7), 2018; Ord. 853 § 2 (part), 1993; Ord. 376 § 1 (part), 1969)

The City Manager shall issue a permit as provided for hereunder when, from a consideration of the application and from such other information as may otherwise be obtained, they find that:

A. The conduct of the parade will not substantially interrupt the safe and orderly movement of other traffic contiguous to its route;

B. The conduct of the parade will not require the diversion of so great a number of Police Officers of the City to properly police the line of movement and the areas contiguous thereto as to prevent normal police protection to the City;

C. The concentration of persons, animals and vehicles at assembly points of the parade will not unduly interfere with proper fire and police protection of, or ambulance service to, areas contiguous to such assembly areas;

D. The conduct of such parade will not interfere with the movement of fire-fighting equipment enroute to a fire;

E. The conduct of such parade is not reasonably likely to cause injury to persons or property, to provoke disorderly conduct or create a disturbance;

F. The parade is scheduled to move from its point of origin to its point of termination expeditiously and without unreasonable delays en route;

G. The parade is not to be held for the sole purpose of advertising the goods, wares or merchandise of a particular business establishment or vendor. (Ord. 1094 § 12, 2026; Ord. 1062 § 14, 2022; Ord. 1030 § 2(7), 2018; Ord. 376 § 1 (part), 1969)

The City Manager shall act upon the application for a parade permit within fifteen (15) days after the filing thereof. If the City Manager disapproves the application, they shall mail to the applicant, within fifteen (15) days after the date upon which the application was filed, a notice of their action, stating the reasons for their denial of the permit. (Ord. 1094 § 12, 2026; Ord. 1062 § 14, 2022; Ord. 1030 § 2(7), 2018; Ord. 376 § 1 (part), 1969)

Any person aggrieved by the action of the City Manager hereunder shall have the right to appeal pursuant to Larkspur Municipal Code Chapter 2.50. (Ord. 1094 § 12, 2026; Ord. 1030 § 2(7), 2018; Ord. 853 § 5 (part), 1993; Ord. 376 § 1 (part), 1969)

The City Manager, in denying an application for a parade permit, shall be empowered to authorize the conduct of the parade on a date, at a time, or over a route different from that named by the applicant. An applicant desiring to accept an alternative permit shall, within ten (10) days after notice of the action of the City Manager, file a written notice of acceptance with the City Manager. An alternate parade permit shall conform to the requirements of, and shall have the effect of, a parade permit under this chapter. (Ord. 1094 § 12, 2026; Ord. 1030 § 2(7), 2018; Ord. 376 § 1 (part), 1969)

Immediately upon the issuance of a parade permit, the City Manager shall send a copy thereof to the following:

A. Police Chief;

B. City Attorney;

C. Fire Chief;

D. Public Works Superintendent;

E. Postmaster;

F. General manager or responsible head of each public transportation utility, the regular routes of whose vehicles will be affected by the route of the proposed parade. (Ord. 1094 § 12, 2026; Ord. 1030 § 2(7), 2018; Ord. 376 § 1 (part), 1969)

Each parade permit shall state the following information:

A. Starting time;

B. Minimum speed;

C. Maximum speed;

D. Maximum interval of space to be maintained between the units of the parade;

E. The portions of the streets to be traversed that may be occupied by the parade;

F. The maximum length of the parade in miles or fractions thereof;

G. Such other information as the City Manager shall find necessary to the enforcement of this chapter. (Ord. 1094 § 12, 2026; Ord. 1030 § 2(7), 2018; Ord. 376 § 1 (part), 1969)

A permittee hereunder shall comply with all permit directions and conditions and with all applicable laws and ordinances.

A. Possession of Permit. The parade chairperson or other person heading or leading such activity shall carry the parade permit upon their person during the conduct of the parade. (Ord. 1094 § 12, 2026; Ord. 1062 § 14, 2022; Ord. 1030 § 2(7), 2018; Ord. 376 § 1 (part), 1969)

A. Interference. No person shall unreasonably hamper, obstruct or impede, or interfere with any parade or parade assembly or with any person, vehicle or animal participating or used in a parade.

B. Driving Through Parades. No driver of a vehicle of any sort shall drive between the vehicles or persons comprising a parade when such vehicles or persons are in motion and are conspicuously designated as a parade.

C. Parking on Parade Route. The City Manager shall have the authority when reasonably necessary to prohibit or restrict the parking of vehicles along a highway or part thereof constituting a part of the route of a parade. The City Manager shall post signs to such effect, and it is unlawful for any person to park or leave unattended any vehicle in violation thereof. No person shall be liable for parking on a street unposted in violation of this chapter. (Ord. 1094 § 12, 2026; Ord. 1030 § 2(7), 2018; Ord. 376 § 1 (part), 1969)

The City Manager shall have the authority to revoke a parade permit issued hereunder upon application of the standards for issuance as herein set forth. (Ord. 1094 § 12, 2026; Ord. 1030 § 2(7), 2018; Ord. 376 § 1 (part), 1969)