Chapter 13.32 — PARADES AND OTHER SPECIAL EVENTS ON CITY STREETS, SIDEWALKS

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Petaluma Parade and Other Special Events Ordinance." (Ord.

1585 NCS §3, 1984.)

This section establishes the standards for the issuance of a permit for parades, athletic events, and other special

events in the city. (Ord. 1585 NCS §3, 1984.)

A. "Applicant" means any person or organization who seeks a special event permit from the chief of police to

conduct or sponsor an event governed by this section.

B. "Athletic event" means an occasion on which a group of persons collectively engage in a sport or form of

physical exercise on a city street, sidewalk or other city-owned land and improvements, which obstructs, delays or

interferes with the normal Mow of pedestrian or vehicular traNc, or does not comply with traNc laws and controls.

Athletic events include bicycle and foot races.

C. "Block party" means a festive gathering on a residential street requiring a closure of a street, or a portion

thereof, to vehicular traNc, and use of the street for the festivity including barbecues, picnics, music or games.

D. "Chief of police" means the chief of police or his authorized deputy.

E. "Event" means a parade, athletic event or other special event.

F. "Other special event" means a street fair, art and craft show, carnival, block party, soap box derby, rally, and

other special events which occur on a city street, sidewalk or other city-owned land and improvements which

obstructs, delays or interferes with the normal Mow of pedestrian or vehicular traNc, or does not comply with

traNc laws and controls.

G. "Parade" means a march or procession consisting of persons, animals or vehicles, or combination thereof, on

any city street, sidewalk or other city-owned land and improvements which obstructs, delays or interferes with the

normal Mow of pedestrian or vehicular traNc, or does not comply with traNc laws or controls.

The Petaluma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2916 NCS, passed December 1, 2025.

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H. "Permit application fee" means the nonrefundable fee to be paid by the special event permit applicant to

cover the full costs (or portion hereof) of processing and investigating special event applications, and

administering the special event permit program.

I. "Permittee" means any person or organization who has been issued a special events permit by the chief of

police.

J. "Sidewalk" means that portion of a street between the curbline and the adjacent property line intended for

the use of pedestrians.

K. "Street" has the same meaning as in Section 1.04.010(T) of this code and includes all city streets, highways,

alleys, courts and squares.

(Ord. 1585 NCS §3, 1984.)

Any person desiring to sponsor a parade, athletic event or other special event on a city street, sidewalk or other

city owned land and improvements in the city shall Lrst obtain a special event permit from the chief of police.

A special event permit is not required for the following:

A. Parades, athletic events or other special events which occur exclusively on city property under the jurisdiction

of the Petaluma parks and recreation department. Those events are governed by Chapter 13.28 of this code;

B. Funeral processions;

C. Parades involving a total of thirty or fewer pedestrians marching along a parade route which is restricted to

marching on sidewalks, and crossing streets only at pedestrian crosswalks in accordance with traNc regulations

and controls. Pedestrians participating in the parade shall cross crosswalks in units of ten or less, and shall allow

vehicles to pass between each unit.

(Ord. 1585 NCS §3, 1984.)

A. Any person desiring to sponsor a parade, athletic event or other special event not exempted by Section

supplied by the chief of police not less than thirty days nor more than ninety days before the event date.

B. Upon a showing of good cause, the chief of police shall consider an application which is Lled after the Lling

deadline if there is suNcient time to process and investigate the application, and obtain police services for the

event. Good cause can be demonstrated by the applicant showing that the circumstance which gave rise to the

The Petaluma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2916 NCS, passed December 1, 2025.

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permit application did not reasonably allow the participants to Lle within the time prescribed, and that the event is

for the purpose of exercising the right of free speech.

C. The application for a permit shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable permit application fee in the amount

established by city council resolution.

(Ord. 1585 NCS §3, 1984.)

The application for a special event permit shall provide the following information:

A. All events:

1. The name, address, and telephone number of the applicant and an alternative contact person,

2. If the event is proposed to be sponsored by an organization, the name, address and telephone number

of the organization, and the authorized head of the organization. If requested by the chief of police, written

authorization to apply for the special event permit by an oNcer of the organization,

3. The name, address and telephone number of the person who will be present and in charge of the event

on the day of the event,

4. The nature/purpose of the event,

5. Date and time (starting and ending) of the event,

6. Location of the event, including its boundaries,

7. Estimated number of participants in the event,

8. The type and number of vehicles, animals and structures which will be used at the event. Whether there

will be water aid stations at the event,

9. Description of any sound ampliLcation equipment which will be used at the event,

10. Whether any food or beverages will be sold at the event,

11. Whether monitors will be employed at the event,

12. Parking requirements for the event;

B. Additional information required for parades, races and other events occurring along a route:

1. The assembly point for the event, the time at which units of the parade or other event will begin to

assemble,

The Petaluma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2916 NCS, passed December 1, 2025.

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2. The route to be traveled,

3. Whether the parade or other event will occupy all or only a portion of the streets proposed to be

traversed,

4. Maximum length or components of parade in miles or portions thereof,

5. The number, type, size and material of any Moats or banners;

C. Supplemental Information. Such supplemental information as the chief of police shall Lnd necessary, under the

particular circumstances of a special event application, to determine whether to approve or conditionally approve

an application pursuant to Sections 13.32.080 and 13.32.090.

(Ord. 1585 NCS §3, 1984.)

The chief of police shall approve, conditionally approve or deny an application for the grounds speciLed in Section

Such action shall be taken no later than ten days after receiving a completed application unless time is

waived by the applicant. Notice of the chief of police’s decision shall be delivered personally to the applicant or

mailed to the applicant’s address. If the application is denied, the chief of police shall inform the applicant of the

grounds for the denial in writing, or the reasons for a change in the date, time, route or location of the event, and

of his right of appeal. If the chief of police refuses to consider a late application under Section 13.32.050(B), the

chief of police shall inform the applicant of his reason for the refusal, and of his right of appeal. (Ord. 1585 NCS §3,

1984.)

A. The chief of police shall approve an application for a special event permit unless he determines from

consideration of the application, or other pertinent information, that any of the following conditions exist:

1. Information contained in the application, or supplemental information requested from the applicant, is

found to be false in any material detail;

2. The applicant fails to complete the application form after having been requested to do so;

3. The sole purpose of the event is advertising of any product, goods, wares, merchandise or event, and is

designed to be held for private proLt and not for First Amendment expression;

4. Another special event permit application has been received prior in time, or has already been approved,

to hold another event at the same time and place requested by the applicant, or so close in time and place as

to cause undue traNc congestion, or the police department is unable to meet the needs for police services for

both events;

The Petaluma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2916 NCS, passed December 1, 2025.

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5. The time, route or size of the event will substantially interrupt the safe and orderly movement of traNc

contiguous to the event site or route, or disrupt the use of a street at a time when it is usually subject to great

traNc congestion;

6. The concentration of persons, animals and vehicles at the site of the event, or the assembly and

disbanding areas around an event, will prevent proper police, Lre or ambulance services to areas contiguous

to the event;

7. The size or nature of the event will require the assignment of so great a number of city police oNcers to

properly police the line of movement of an event, or the boundaries or areas contiguous to an event, as to

prevent normal police protection to the rest of the city. Nothing in this section authorizes denial of a permit

because of the need to protect participants from the conduct of others, if reasonable permit conditions can

be imposed to allow for adequate protection of event participants with the number of police oNcers available

to police the event;

8. The location of the event will substantially interfere with any construction or maintenance work

scheduled to take place upon or along the city streets, or a previously granted encroachment permit;

9. The event shall occur at a time when a school is in session at a route or location adjacent to the school or

class thereof, and the noise created by the activities of the event would substantially disrupt the educational

activities of the school or class thereof.

B. When the grounds for denial of an application for permit speciLed in subsections (A)(4) through (A)(9) of this

section, can be corrected by altering the date, time, duration, route or location of the event, the chief of police

shall instead of denying the application conditionally approve the application upon the applicant’s acceptance of

conditions for permit issuance.

(Ord. 1585 NCS §3, 1984.)

The chief of police may condition the issuance of a special events permit by imposing reasonable requirements

concerning the time, place and manner of the event, and such requirements as are necessary to protect the safety

of persons and property, and the control of traNc; provided, that such conditions shall not unreasonably restrict

the right of free speech. Such conditions include:

A. Alteration of the mute, time or location of the event proposed on the event application;

B. Conditions concerning the area of assembly and disbanding of parades or other events occurring along a

route;

C. Conditions concerning accommodation of pedestrian or vehicular traNc, including restricting the event to

only a portion of a street transversed;

The Petaluma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2916 NCS, passed December 1, 2025.

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D. Requirements for the use of traNc cones or barricades;

E. Requirements for provision of Lrst aid or sanitary facilities;

F. Requirements for the use of event monitors, and providing notice of permit conditions to event participants;

G. Restrictions on the number and type of vehicles, animals or structures at the event, and inspection and

approval of Moats and other decorated vehicles for Lre safety by the Petaluma Lre department;

H. Compliance with animal protection ordinances and laws;

I. Requirements for use of garbage containers, cleanup and restoration of city property;

J. Restrictions on use of ampliLed sound;

K. An application for a special event permit to conduct a block party may be conditioned on notice and approval

by Lfty percent of the residents of dwellings along the aOected street(s). Block parties must be located in a cul-de-

sac to be approved;

L. Compliance with any relevant ordinance or law and obtaining any legally required permit or license;

M. Requiring proof of permission to use private property for a portion of the event.

(Ord. 1585 NCS §3, 1984.)

A. The applicant shall have the right to appeal to the city council a permit denial, permit condition, refusal to

waive Lling deadlines or a decision pertaining to fees or insurance coverage under this chapter. Notice of appeal

shall be Lled with the city clerk, stating the grounds for the appeal. A notice of appeal shall be made on a form

prescribed by the city clerk and shall be Lled with the city clerk stating the ground for appeal. Regular meetings of

the city council are scheduled in accordance with Section 2.04.010 of this code (usually the Lrst and third Monday

of each month). The appeal must be Lled no later than noon on Monday preceding a city council meeting to be

placed on the next regular meeting agenda. The decision of the city council is Lnal.

B. If there is insuNcient time for a timely appeal to be heard by the city council prior to the date on which event

is scheduled, the applicant may at his/her option, request the city clerk to schedule the appeal before the city

manager. The city manager shall hold a hearing no later than three business days after the Llming of the appeal,

and shall render his decision no later than two business days after hearing the appeal.

(Ord. 1585 NCS §3, 1984.)

The Petaluma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2916 NCS, passed December 1, 2025.

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The chief of police shall issue the special events permit once the application has been approved, and the applicant

has agreed in writing to comply with the terms and conditions of the permit, and the following sections of this

chapter have been complied with:

A. Section 13.32.120 (pertaining to indemniLcation);

B. Section 13.32.130 (pertaining to insurance);

C. Section 13.32.140 (pertaining to cleanup deposits);

D. Section 13.32.150 (pertaining to traNc control fees).

(Ord. 1585 NCS §3, 1984.)

Prior to the issuance of a special event permit, the permit applicant and authorized oNcer of the sponsoring

organization (if any) must sign an agreement to reimburse the city for any costs incurred by it in repairing damage

to city property in connection with the event proximately caused by the action of the permittee/sponsoring

organization, its oNcers, employees or agents, or any person who was or reasonably should have been under the

permittee’s sponsoring organization’s control. The agreement shall also provide that the permittee/sponsoring

organization shall defend the city against, and indemnify and hold the city harmless from, any liability to any

persons resulting from any damage or injury in connection with the event proximately caused by the actions of

the permittee/sponsoring organization, its oNcers, employees or agents, or any person who was or reasonably

should have been under the permittee’s/sponsoring organization’s control. (Ord. 1585 NCS §3, 1984.)

A. The applicant/sponsor of an event must possess or obtain liability insurance to protect against loss from

liability imposed by law for damages on account of bodily injury and property damage arising from the event. Such

insurance shall name on the policy or by endorsement as additional insured the city, its oNcers, employees and

agents. Insurance coverage must be maintained for the duration of the event.

B. Coverage shall be provided by a comprehensive general liability insurance policy in an amount prescribed by

city council resolution. The insurance coverage aOorded by the policy shall provide at a minimum the equivalent of

insurance coverage provided by Insurance Services ONce (ISO) comprehensive general liability insurance

coverage. If food or nonalcoholic beverages will be sold or distributed at the event, the comprehensive general

liability coverage must include products liability coverage. If alcoholic beverages will be sold or distributed at the

event, the policy must also include coverage for liquor liability.

The Petaluma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2916 NCS, passed December 1, 2025.

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C. A copy of the policy or a certiLcate of insurance along with all necessary endorsements must be Lled with the

city no less than Lve calendar days prior to the event unless the chief of police for good cause waives the Lling

deadline.

D. The insurance requirements of subsections A, B and C of this section shall be waived by the chief of police for

nonathletic events if the following conditions are satisLed:

1. The applicant or an oNcer of the sponsoring organization signs a veriLed statement that he believes the

event’s purpose is First Amendment expression, and that he has determined that the cost of obtaining

insurance is so Lnancially burdensome that it would constitute an unreasonable burden on the right of First

Amendment expression, or that it has been impossible to obtain insurance coverage.

The statement shall include the name of an insurance agent licensed to do business in California who has

investigated the costs of such insurance, or state that the applicant/sponsor has reviewed the insurance

premium for the required coverage under a city held special events insurance policy.

2. The city may, at its discretion, determine to require the applicant/sponsor to apply for insurance

coverage for the event under a policy selected by the city. The applicant/sponsor must provide any

information pertinent to qualifying for the insurance coverage. The premium for the insurance coverage will

be paid for by the city rather than the applicant/sponsor.

(Ord. 1585 NCS §3, 1984.)

The applicant/sponsor of an event involving the sale of food or beverages, erection of structures, horses or other

large animals, or water aid stations will be required to provide a cleanup deposit prior to the issuance of special

event permit. The cleanup deposit shall be returned after the event if the area used for the permitted event has

been cleaned and restored to the same condition as existed prior to the event.

If the property used for the event has not been properly cleaned or restored, the applicant/sponsor shall be billed

for the actual cost by the city for cleanup and restoration, and the cleanup deposit (or a portion thereof) shall be

applied to payment of the bill. If the applicant/sponsor disputes the bill he may appeal to the director of public

works within Lve days after the receipt of the bill. Should there be any unexpended balance on deposit after

completion of the work, this balance shall be refunded to the applicant/sponsor. (Ord. 1585 NCS §3, 1984.)

A. Assignment of Police Ocers for Trac Control. The chief of police may require the assignment of overtime

oNcers to provide traNc control at the event. TraNc control by oNcers includes cleaning the event route or site of

unauthorized vehicles, diversion of traNc around the event and direction of pedestrian and vehicular traNc along

the route of the event.

The Petaluma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2916 NCS, passed December 1, 2025.

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B. Payment and Computing of Tra*c Control Fees. If overtime oNcers will be assigned for traNc control at the

event, the applicant/sponsor of the event shall be required to prepay the estimated costs of providing the oNcers

prior to the issuance of the event permit. The traNc control fees will be computed by determining the number of

police oNcers who will be required for traNc control, the number of hours the oNcers will be on duty, and the

city’s full costs of providing oNcers on an hourly basis as established by city fee schedule.

C. An Applicant May Request Assignment of ONcers. An applicant may request assignment of overtime oNcers

for policing and/or traNc control at the event. Assignment of overtime oNcers at the request of an applicant/

sponsor is discretionary with the chief of police and is subject to availability of overtime oNcers. The applicant/

sponsor shall be required to prepay the estimated costs of providing the oNcers prior to the issuance of the event

permit.

D. Waiver of Tra*c Control Fees for Certain Events. TraNc control fees shall be waived by the chief of police for the

Lrst four hours that overtime police oNcers are assigned to provide traNc control at the following events: (1)

events sponsored by non-proLt youth organizations; (2) for First Amendment events whose primary purpose is

First Amendment expression. The applicant/-sponsor of the event must sign a veriLed statement that he believes

the event’s purpose is First Amendment expression, and the cost of traNc control fees is so Lnancially

burdensome that it would constitute an unreasonable burden on the right of First Amendment expression. If

overtime oNcers will be assigned for more than four hours, the applicant/sponsor shall be required to prepay

traNc control fees for time in excess of four hours as speciLed in subsection B.

E. Billing and Refunds. If the actual costs to the city of providing police oNcers pursuant to subsections B, C or D

on the day of the event is in excess of the applicant/sponsor’s police fee deposit, the applicant/sponsor shall be

billed for the diOerence. If the actual costs of providing police services pursuant to subsections B, C or D is less

than the applicant/sponsors deposit, the applicant/sponsor shall be refunded the diOerence. -

F. Preestablished Routes. The chief of police may determine certain preestablished routes for parades and other

special events within the city, and predetermine the number of oNcers required for traNc control along those

roues.

(Ord. 1585 NCS §3, 1984.)

A. Each permittee/sponsor of an event shall comply with all terms, and conditions of the special event permit.

B. Each permittee/sponsor of an event shall ensure that the person leading a parade or other event along a

route, or the person in charge of any other event carries the special event permit on his person for the duration of

the event.

C. Each permittee/sponsor of an event shall ensure the area used for the permitted event is cleaned and

restored to the same condition as existed prior to the event, immediately following the completion of the event.

(Ord. 1585 NCS §3, 1984.)

The Petaluma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2916 NCS, passed December 1, 2025.

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It is unlawful for any person to sponsor or conduct a parade, athletic event or other special event requiring a

special event permit unless a permit has been issued for the event. It is unlawful for any person to participate in

such an event with the knowledge that the sponsor of the event has not been issued the required permit. Nor

shall any person interfere with or disrupt a lawful parade, athletic event or other special event. (Ord. 1585 NCS §3,

1984.)

The special event permit authorizes the permittee/sponsor to conduct only such event as is described in the

permit, and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the permit. It is unlawful for the permittee/sponsor to

wilfully violate the terms and conditions of the permit, or for any event participant with knowledge thereof, to

wilfully violate the terms and conditions of the permit. (Ord. 1585 NCS §3, 1984.)

The violations of any provision of this chapter is an infraction, and is punishable upon conviction as provided in

Section 1.04.060 of the code. Such violations may also be addressed in a civil action. (Ord. 1585 NCS §3, 1984.)