PARADES, PROCESSIONS AND CARNIVAL EQUIPMENT.
Madison General Ordinances § 12.87
in effect12.87 - PARADES, PROCESSIONS AND CARNIVAL EQUIPMENT.
(1) Each driver in any procession except a procession permitted by the Chief of Police under subsection (11) shall drive as near to the right-hand edge of the roadway as practical, except upon one-way streets or when otherwise directed by a police officer, and shall follow the vehicle ahead as close as is practical and safe.
(2) Parades and Processions.
(a) The streets and other public places in possession of the City are primarily for the use of the public in the ordinary way. However, under proper circumstances they may be used for parades and processions, subject to reasonable municipal regulation and control. It is recognized that there is a fundamental and constitutional right to use the public streets for a parade. Therefore this ordinance is intended to regulate and control parades and processions to the end that the general welfare of the City be protected.
(b) In this section "parade" means any parade, march or procession of any kind and the assembly areas therefore.
(c) No person shall form, direct, marshal, lead or participate in any parade in any area used principally for pedestrian or vehicular traffic, where they know a permit has not been obtained in advance, unless a permit has been obtained in advance from the Chief of Police, except that, upon notification to the Chief of Police a parade on sidewalks and footways, in which persons move not more than two (2) abreast and which does not substantially hinder normal use of the sidewalk or footway, and which conforms with traffic signals and other traffic regulations, is permitted without a permit. (Am. by ORD-14-00012, 1-14-14)
(d) No person who leads or participates in a parade shall disobey, or encourage others to disobey, this section after a police officer has directly and presently informed them of any of the provisions of this section or the terms of the parade permit that they are violating. (Am. by ORD-14-00012, 1-14-14)
(e) A permit is not required for assembling or movement of a funeral procession, or for any parade sponsored by an agency of the federal or state government, acting in its governmental capacity within the scope of its authority. Federal and state authorities are requested to coordinate preparations for and holding parades sponsored by them under this section with the Chief of Police.
(f) A written application for a permit for any parade for which use of streets, sidewalks or walkways is desired shall be made at the earliest convenience of its organizer to the Chief of Police on a form provided by them, but in no case less than seventy-two (72) hours prior to the parade.
(g) The Chief of Police shall obtain the recommendations of the Director of Traffic Engineering for any parade permit that is proposed on or across a City bus route or arterial street or requires the services and/or equipment from the Traffic Engineering Division to close streets and/or reroute traffic before they approve a parade permit. The Chief of Police shall also obtain the recommendations of such other governmental agencies as the Chief deems necessary before they approve a parade permit. (Am. by ORD-23-00098, 10-26-23)
(h) The application maybe denied:
1. If it is for a parade that is to be held on a work day during hours when and at places where, in addition to the proposed parade, the flow of vehicular and pedestrian traffic is usually delayed by its own volume; or
2. If it is for a parade that is to be held between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
3. If sufficient parade marshals are not provided as to reasonably assure the orderly conduct of the parade.
(i) The application shall be denied:
1. If it is made less than seventy-two (72) hours in advance of the time the parade is scheduled to commence; or
2. If it is for a parade that is primarily for private or commercial economic gain; or
3. If it is for a parade which would involve violation of federal or state highway law or of other applicable provisions of the Madison General Ordinances; or
4. If the granting of the permit would conflict with another permit already granted or for which application is already pending; or
5. If the application does not contain the information required by subsection (k); or
6. If more than one assembly area or more than one dispersal area is proposed.
(j) All applications shall be filed with the Chief of Police. Applications filed less than thirty-five (35) days prior to the date on which the parade is proposed to be conducted shall be filed in person with the Chief of Police.
(k) The application shall set forth the following information regarding the proposed parade:
1. The name, address and telephone number of the applicant.
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 responsible for conducting the parade.
4. The date when the parade is to be conducted and its duration.
5. The assembly area, the starting point, the route to be traveled and the termination point.
6. The number and size of units comprising the parade.
7. If the parade is to be conducted by or for any person other than the applicant, the applicant for such permit shall file with the Chief of Police a communication in writing from the person proposing to hold the parade authorizing the applicant to apply for the permit on their behalf. (Am. by ORD-14-00012, 1-14-14)
8. Any additional information which the Chief of Police finds reasonably necessary to a fair determination as to whether a permit should be issued.
(l) The Chief of Police shall issue a permit to the applicant subject to the foregoing paragraphs of this section, unless the Chief concludes that:
1. The policing of the parade will require so large a number of persons and vehicles, including ambulances, as to prevent adequate service of the needs of the rest of the City; or
2. The parade will so substantially hinder the movement of police and fire and other emergency vehicles as to create a substantial risk to persons and property; or
3. The conduct of the parade will substantially interrupt the safe and orderly movement of other traffic contiguous to its route; or
4. The parade is so poorly organized that participants are likely to engage in aggressive or destructive activity.
(m) The Chief of Police shall act as promptly as they reasonably can on all applications for permits after consulting with other government agencies directly affected and after consulting with the applicant, if necessary. All applications filed thirty-five (35) days or more in advance shall be granted or denied not less than twenty-eight (28) days before the date applied for. Action on applications filed less than thirty-five (35) days in advance shall be taken within seven (7) days after the application is filed, but in no case later than ten (10) hours in advance of the time applied for. The Chief of Police shall immediately by the most reasonable means of communication, notify the applicant of such action and, if the application is denied, the reasons for their denial of the permit. In lieu of denying a permit or revoking it under subdivision (o) the Chief of Police may authorize the changing of assembly areas or dispersal areas or the conducting of the parade at a date or time or over a route different than as applied for or as permitted. The applicant or permittee may accept such modification by immediately notifying the Chief of Police, in writing, of such acceptance. In lieu of revoking a permit under subdivision (o), the Chief of Police may require the permittee to file evidence of good and sufficient sureties, insurance in force or other evidence of adequate financial responsibility, running to the City of Madison and such third parties as may be injured or damaged, in an amount depending upon the likelihood of injury or damage as a direct and proximate result of the holding of the parade sufficient to indemnify the City of Madison and such third parties as may be injured or damaged thereby, caused by the permittee, its agents or participants. (Am. by ORD-14-00012, 1-14-14)
(n) Where the Chief of Police and Mayor have determined that the cost of City services incident to the staging of the parade will be increased because of the parade, the Chief of Police and Mayor may require the permittee to make payment into the general fund of the City of Madison in an amount equal to the increased cost for the City services.
(o) Nothing herein shall prevent the Mayor or the Common Council from overruling the Chief of Police in granting or denying a permit. The Chief of Police may revoke a permit already issued, upon notification to and approval by the Mayor, if the Chief of Police deems that such action is justified by an actual or potential emergency due to weather, fire, riot, other catastrophe or likelihood of a breach of the peace, or by a major change in the conditions forming the basis of the standards of issuance.
(p) Each parade permit shall state such information as the Chief of Police shall find necessary to the enforcement of this section.
(q) Immediately upon the issuance of a parade permit, the Chief of Police shall send a copy thereof to the following:
1. The Mayor.
2. The Fire Chief.
3. The Director of the Department of Public Works.
4. All divisions of the Department of Public Works affected by the parade (City Engineering, Parks, and Streets).
5. Each public transportation utility whose regular routes will be affected by the parade (Madison Metro and private bus lines).
6. The Director of Traffic Engineering. (Am. by ORD-23-00098, 10-26-23)
(r) A permittee under this section shall comply with all permit directions and conditions and with all applicable laws and ordinances.
(s) Each provision or requirement of any portion of this subsection shall be considered separable, and the invalidity of any portion of this subsection shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other portion.
(3) It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to operate any vehicle or vehicles transporting carnival equipment or paraphernalia over any street in the City of Madison without a permit from the Chief of Police. Said permit shall designate the time for use and the streets to be used by said vehicles. No carnival shall load or unload in the City of Madison.
(Am. by ORD-14-00012, 1-14-14) (Sec. 12.87 Am. by Ord. 11,810, Adopted 3-4-97)
Source: City of Madison, Wisconsin, Madison General Ordinances (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/wi/madison/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COORMAWIVOIICH11--19_CH12VECO_MIRU_12.87PAPRCAEQFetched: 11/1/2026