Hattiesburg Code of Ordinances § 46-207 Short title.
Sec. 46-207. - Short title.
This division shall be known and may be cited as the "Block Party in Parade Ordinance of the City."
(Ord. No. 3211, § 1, 3-7-2017; Ord. No. 3300, 11-16-2021)
BLOCK PARTY IN PARADE
Hattiesburg Code of Ordinances ch. 46, art. VI, div. 3
in effectHattiesburg Code of Ordinances § 46-208 Definitions.
Sec. 46-208. - Definitions.
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this division, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Block party means a social or recreation gathering of persons where a street, or portion thereof, must be closed to, vehicular traffic to accommodate a celebration, including, but not limited to music, games, food festival, community event, or commercial activity. A block party is not a substitute for a business operation; since by definition block parties are held on public property, admission charges, an entry fee or any such charge is prohibited. A block party is not intended to be a routine or regularly reoccurring event; rather, block party permits are intended to support periodic and infrequent events. Sponsors and vendors are required to file and collect necessary information and taxes as required by the department of revenue and must present proof of an alcoholic beverage control permit for the sale of beverages.
Block party permit means a permit as required by this division.
Chief of police means the chief of police of the city.
Person means any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company or organization of any kind.
Vendor means any business, craft supplier, mobile food vendor, food truck, organization, or person that participates in the sale or advertisement of, but is not limited to, information, goods, or food.
(Ord. No. 3211, § 2, 3-7-2017; Ord. No. 3300, 11-16-2021)
Hattiesburg Code of Ordinances § 46-209 Permit required.
Sec. 46-209. - Permit required.
No person shall engage in, participate in, aid, form or host a block party unless a block party permit has been obtained from the chief of police in the city police department. The application is as follows:
(1) Required. A person seeking this issuance of a block party permit shall file an application with the chief of police on forms provided by city police department.
(2) Filing period. An application for block party permit shall be filed no less than 30 days before the date which the block party is proposed to be conducted. The application shall be signed by the applicant.
(3) Contents. The application for a block party permit shall set forth the following information:
a. The name, address, email address and telephone number of the person seeking to host the event.
b. If block party is proposed to be conducted for, on behalf of, or by an organization, the name, address, email address and telephone number of the president or administrator of the organization shall be provided.
c. The date of the block party.
d. The purpose of the event.
e. Roads that will be used, blocked or out of service for travel.
f. The number of expected persons, food vendors and craft vendors.
g. The set-up hours before the block party begins.
h. Start and end time of the block party.
i. Attached general liability insurance policy issued by an insurance company authorized to do business in the state, with coverage of not less than $1,000,000.00.
j. Any additional information necessary, including, but not limited to, need of power, entertainment, noise, map of event, etc.
k. A receipt for the fee hereinafter prescribed.
(4) Late applications. The chief of police, where good cause is shown therefor, shall have the authority to consider any application hereunder which is filed less than 30 days but at least seven days before the date of proposed block party.
(5) Application fee. A fee shall be as now or hereafter established by the city to cover the expenses incident to processing shall be paid to the city by the person applying for the permit at the time of filing, which shall be delivered into the general fund of the city.
(Ord. No. 3300, 11-16-2021)
Hattiesburg Code of Ordinances § 46-210 Standard of issuance.
Sec. 46-210. - Standard of issuance.
The chief of police 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, he/she finds that:
(1) The conduct of the block party will not substantially interrupt the normal, safe and orderly movement of other traffic contiguous to its route.
(2) The conduct of the block party 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 area contiguous thereto as to prevent normal police protection to the city.
(3) The concentration of persons, vendors and vehicles will not unduly interfere with proper fire and police protection of, or ambulance service to, areas contiguous to such assembly areas.
(4) The conduct of such block party will not interfere with firefighting equipment en route to a fire or the movement of other emergency equipment.
(5) The conduct of the block party is not reasonably likely to cause injury to persons or property, to provoke disorderly conduct or to create a disturbance.
(6) The block party is scheduled to set up and end by times listed on application and without unreasonable delays as to prohibit the reopening of streets.
(7) The block party is not to be held for the sole purpose of advertising any good, product or event and is not designed to be held purely for profit. Provided, however, the prohibition against advertising any product, good or event shall not apply to signs identifying organizations or sponsors furnishing the block party.
(Ord. No. 3300, 11-16-2021)
Hattiesburg Code of Ordinances § 46-211 Notice of approval.
Sec. 46-211. - Notice of approval.
The chief of police shall act upon the application for a block party within five days after the filing thereof. Approval of the application shall be mailed electronically to the applicant and organizing party. Notice of approval shall also be shared with necessary city departments.
(Ord. No. 3300, 11-16-2021)
Hattiesburg Code of Ordinances § 46-212 Notice of rejection.
Sec. 46-212. - Notice of rejection.
The chief of police shall act upon the application for a block party permit within five days after the filing thereof. If the chief of police disapproves the application, he/she shall mail the applicant, by certified mail within five days after the time upon which the application was filed, a notice of action stating the reason for denial.
(Ord. No. 3300, 11-16-2021)
Hattiesburg Code of Ordinances § 46-213 Alternative permit.
Sec. 46-213. - Alternative permit.
(a) The chief of police in denying an application for a block party permit shall be empowered to authorize the conduct of the block party on a date, at a time, or location different from that listed on the application for permit. An applicant desiring to accept an alternate permit shall, within two days after notice of the action of the chief of police, file a written notice of acceptance. An alternate block party permit shall conform to the requirements of and shall have the effect of a block party permit under this division. Notice to city and other officials.
(b) Immediately upon the issuance of a block party permit, the police department shall send a copy thereof to the following:
(1) The chief of police.
(2) The fire chief.
(3) The mayor's office.
(4) The parks and recreation department.
(5) The traffic division of public works.
(Ord. No. 3300, 11-16-2021)
Hattiesburg Code of Ordinances § 46-214 Duties of permittee; possession of permit.
Sec. 46-214. - Duties of permittee; possession of permit.
(a) A permittee and participating vendors hereunder shall comply with all permit directions and conditions with applicable laws and ordinances.
(b) The block party applicant, chairperson or other person leading the event shall carry a copy of the permit upon his/her person during the block party.
(c) Public conduct during block parties.
(1) Interference. No person shall unreasonably hammer, obstruct or impede, or interfere with any block party or assembly of block party or with any person, vehicle or vendor participating in the event.
(2) Driving through block party. No driver of any vehicle, expect emergency vehicles, shall drive between the vendors, stages, attendees of the block party.
(3) Parking during block party. The chief of police 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 boundaries of the block party. The chief of police shall post signs to such effect, and it shall be 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 division.
(Ord. No. 3300, 11-16-2021)
Hattiesburg Code of Ordinances § 46-215 Revocation of permit.
Sec. 46-215. - Revocation of permit.
The chief of police shall have the authority to revoke a block party permit issues hereunder upon violation of the standards for issuance as herein set forth.
(Ord. No. 3300, 11-16-2021)
Hattiesburg Code of Ordinances § 46-216 Indemnification and insurance.
Sec. 46-216. - Indemnification and insurance.
(a) The applicant and any other persons, organizations, firms or corporations on whose behalf the application is made, by filing such application do represent, stipulate, contract and agree that they will jointly and severally indemnify and hold the city harmless against liability for any and all claims for damage to property, or injury to, or death of persons arising out of resulting from the issuance of the permit or the conduct of the block party or its participants.
(b) In addition, no block party permit shall be issued unless the applicant therefor shall obtain a comprehensive general liability insurance policy, issued by an insurance company authorized to do business in the state, with coverage that includes the assembly area, the block party boundaries, the clean-up and take down of the event, staging, and any other area used by the participants of the event. The city shall be named as an additional insured on the policy. The policy limits of said insurance shall not be less than:
(1) Property damage: $5,000.00 each occurrence.
(2) Bodily injury or death: $25,000.00 each person.
(3) $50,000.00 each occurrence.
(c) At the time of the application for the block party permit satisfactory proof that the required insurance has been obtained must be presented to the chief of police and attached to the permit application. The requirement for satisfactory proof may be compiled with either by depositing the insurance policy itself with the chief of police or by furnishing a certificate of insurance, meeting the following specifications to the chief of police:
(1) The insurance policies issued should be listed and for each policy the type of insurance, policy number, expiration date and limits of liability should be shown.
(2) The certificate should designate the city as certificate holder and as an additional insured and should contain a statement to the effect that the policies listed are in force and that in the event of cancellation or any material change in a policy affecting the certificate holder, at least ten days prior written notice will be given to the certificate holder.
(3) Below the schedule of insurance in force, the certificate should include a statement substantially as follows: "The comprehensive general liability policy above includes coverage of designated premises and coverage for contractual liability in compliance with the provisions of Ordinance No. 3300 of the city or a block party to be held on ________ (date year)."
(4) The certificate should be signed or countersigned by an authorized local agent of the issuing company or companies and should have attached a copy of power of attorney evidencing the agent's authority.
(Ord. No. 3300, 11-16-2021)
Hattiesburg Code of Ordinances § 46-217 Penalties.
Sec. 46-217. - Penalties.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to stage, present, conduct or attempt to stage, present, or conduct a block party without first having obtained a permit therefor as herein provided or who shall otherwise violate any of the provisions of this division.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to participate in a block party on the city streets for which a permit has not been granted.
(c) It shall be unlawful for any person to fail to comply with all directions and conditions of the block party permit.
(d) Any person violating the provisions of any section of this division shall, upon conviction, be fined not more than $300.00 or be imprisoned for not more than 90 days or shall be fined and imprisoned in the discretion of the municipal judge.
(Ord. No. 3300, 11-16-2021)
Source: City of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Code of Ordinances (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ms/hattiesburg/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH46STSIOTPUPL_ARTVIPABLPAEV_DIV3BLPAPAFetched: 11/1/2026