PARADES

Houston Code of Ordinances ch. 25, art. III

in effect

Houston Code of Ordinances § 25-101 Definitions.

Sec. 25-101. - Definitions. The following words, terms, and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings provided in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning: Civilian traffic controllers has the meaning provided in section 25-51 of this Code. Conditional permit means a permit subject to the satisfaction of conditions that if not satisfied within the time allotted shall result in the automatic revocation of such permit. Director of Houston Public Works means the Director of Houston Public Works or the director's designee. Disbanding area means the area where parade participants, floats, vehicles, and animals disband following a parade. Downtown area has the meaning provided for the term central business district in section 42-1 of this Code. Final permit means a permit issued upon the satisfaction of all requirements of this article. Holiday means any day officially recognized by the city as a holiday for its employees observed by the general closure of city offices. Intersection means the junction of any two streets within the parade route, but shall not include any staging or disbanding area. Non-revenue-generating parade means any parade for which no participation fee is charged or for which no cash is accepted or collected as sponsorship or in support of the proposed parade. Parade means a procession of pedestrians, vehicles, or animals, or any combination thereof, traveling in unison along or upon a street, road, or highway, organized and conducted for the purposes of attracting the attention of the general public and/or expressing or celebrating views or ideas by use of verbal, visual, literary, or auditory means of communication. A parade shall not mean a procession of vehicles operated in compliance with ordinary traffic laws or a procession of pedestrians along or upon public sidewalks or private property. Revenue-generating parade means any parade for which a participation fee is charged or for which any cash is accepted or collected as sponsorship or in support of the proposed parade. Special event holiday means any holiday proclaimed by the mayor as a special community celebration. Staging area means the area where parade participants, floats, vehicles, and animals assemble prior to a parade. (Ord. No. 2010-911, § 2(Exh. A), 12-1-2010; Ord. No. 2018-11, § 17, 1-10-2018)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 25-102 Permit required; security and traffic control.

Sec. 25-102. - Permit required; security and traffic control. (a) It shall be unlawful for any number of persons, delegations, or associations of persons, or for any company, circus, or group to conduct a parade along or upon the streets of the city without first obtaining a permit to do so. (b) It shall be unlawful for any number of persons, delegations, or associations of persons, or for any company, circus, or group to conduct a parade upon any esplanade, median, median strip, or traffic island designed for the purpose of separating or directing vehicular traffic. No permit shall be required for the use of the sidewalks of the city for any procession or parade. (c) Upon receipt of a permit, any number of persons, delegations, or associations of persons or any company, circus, or group may conduct a parade along or upon the streets of the city subject to the provisions of this article and other applicable laws. (d) In no event shall the city provide security control services or traffic control services for more than two parades on the same calendar day. (e) The use of city security control services and traffic control services shall be provided on a first-come, first-served basis based upon the special event organizer's declaration as required by item (12) of section 25-106 of this Code. (f) If a special event organizer requests the use of city security control services and traffic control services along a parade route, and the city has the necessary resources available to provide the requisite security and traffic control services, such services shall be provided as follows: (1) At no cost for the first 12 intersections along the proposed parade route. (2) For each intersection thereafter along the proposed parade route, for the per intersection fee stated for this provision in the city fee schedule. (g) In the event that the city is unable to provide traffic control services for the proposed parade or the special event organizer elects to provide its own traffic control services, the use of non-city personnel to perform traffic control services shall require the submission of a traffic control plan prepared in conformance with the Texas Manual on Traffic Control Devices. The submitted traffic control plan shall be subject to the review and written approval of the Director of Houston Public Works. The use of non-city personnel to provide public security control services during a parade shall require the submission of a security control plan subject to the review and written approval of the police chief. (h) All costs recovered in relation to the provision of city security control services and traffic control services shall be allocated to the city's general fund administered by the finance department. (Ord. No. 2010-911, § 2(Exh. A), 12-1-2010; Ord. No. 2011-1168, § 13, 12-14-2011; Ord. No. 2018-11, § 49, 1-10-2018)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 25-103 Parade route restrictions in downtown area.

Sec. 25-103. - Parade route restrictions in downtown area. Subject to the approval of the MOSE director and Director of Houston Public Works, a special event organizer may design its own parade route for a parade to be held in the downtown area with the following restrictions: (1) A parade held on a Saturday, Sunday, holiday, or special event holiday may include no more than 25 street intersections and must be completed in no more than three hours. (2) A parade held on a day other than a Saturday, Sunday, holiday, or special event holiday may include no more than 10 street intersections. No permit shall be granted for a parade to occur between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., and 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on a day other than a Saturday, Sunday, holiday, or special event holiday. (3) The parade must be conducted in such a manner that to the extent that the route includes any entrances to or exits from off-street vehicle parking, loading, or customer service facilities, whether public or private, the width of the parade procession shall be controlled at those facilities so that at least one lane of the street may safely be left open for vehicular access to each vehicle facility from the nearest cross street. (4) A parade route may not include any streets or portions of streets that are located west of Bagby Street, south of Jefferson Street, east of Chartres Street, or north of Congress Street. (5) A parade route must in its entirety be located either: a. On Fannin Street or other streets or portions of streets located to the east of Fannin Street; or b. On Travis Street or other streets or portions of streets located to the west of Travis Street. (Ord. No. 2010-911, § 2(Exh. A), 12-1-2010; Ord. No. 2018-11, § 49, 1-10-2018)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 25-104 Parades outside of downtown area.

Sec. 25-104. - Parades outside of downtown area. (a) Permits for parades outside of the downtown area shall be issued in conformance with all the provisions of this article. No permit shall be issued for a parade that includes streets located both inside and outside the downtown area. (b) Subject to the approval of the MOSE director and Director of Houston Public Works, a special event organizer may design its own parade route for a parade to be held outside the downtown area with the following restrictions: (1) The route may not exceed one and one-half miles in length and may not include more than 25 intersections, whichever is less. (2) The maximum time necessary for completion of the parade may not exceed three hours. (3) A parade held on a day other than a Saturday, Sunday, holiday, or special event holiday, must be completed in no more than one hour, and must begin at 10:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m., or 7:00 p.m. (4) If more than one parade is to be held on the same calendar day and time, the parade routes and staging and disbanding areas of each parade may not be within five miles of one another. (5) No parade route shall contain any portion of the following streets, roads, or highways: a. Interstate Highway 610 Loop, including its service roads. b. U.S. Highway 59, including its service roads. c. Interstate Highway 45, including its service roads. d. U.S. Highway 290, including its service roads. e. Interstate Highway 10, including its service roads. f. State Highway 288, including its service roads. g. Controlled access portions of U.S. Highways 90 and 90-A, including their service roads. h. The Hardy Toll Road, including its service roads. i. Beltway 8, including those portions known as the Sam Houston Toll Road, and its service roads. j. State Highway 225, including its service roads. k. Controlled access portions of State Highway 249, including its service roads. l. State Highway Spur 5, including its service roads. m. Westpark Toll Road. n. State Highway Spur 527, including its service roads. This provision shall not be construed to prohibit a parade route from crossing one of the listed streets, roads, or highways while traveling along or upon a non-listed street, road, or highway. (Ord. No. 2010-911, § 2(Exh. A), 12-1-2010; Ord. No. 2018-11, § 49, 1-10-2018)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 25-105 Permit application generally; issuance, etc.

Sec. 25-105. - Permit application generally; issuance, etc. (a) An application for a parade permit shall be submitted on a form supplied by the MOSE director, signed by the special event organizer or, if the special event organizer is other than an individual, a person authorized for that purpose by the special event organizer, and filed with MOSE. (b) An application for a parade permit that requires the closure of a freeway entrance or exit ramp or any portion of a state-owned controlled access highway shall be filed not less that 90 days prior to the proposed parade date. (c) The MOSE director shall review each application to ensure that the time, place, and manner of the proposed parade complies with the provisions of this article. The MOSE director shall: (1) Notify the special event organizer of the denial of the application if it is found to conflict with another parade already permitted for the same time, location, and date, or to be incomplete or to violate any provision of this Code, which notice shall set forth the reasons for the denial; (2) Issue a final permit as provided in section 25-163 of this Code if the special event organizer has satisfied all requirements of this article for the proposed parade; or (3) Issue a conditional permit, if additional requirements are to be satisfied in the future but within the time allotted by this article. (d) The issuance of a conditional permit shall not authorize a special event organizer to conduct a parade at the requested time, place, or date and shall serve only to reserve the time, place, and date of the proposed parade route pending the special event organizer's timely satisfaction of all other requirements of this article applicable to the parade requested, including but not limited to the provision of required insurance, the payment of costs for security control services and traffic control services, or any other requirement. (e) Each application for a parade permit must be accompanied by the non-refundable fee stated for this provision in the city fee schedule. All tendered fees must be in the form of cash, cashier's check, money order, or other method of payment accepted by the city. (f) If at the time of submitting the parade application a special event organizer of a non-revenue-generating parade is unable to pay the full amount of the permit application fee pursuant to subsection (e), the fee shall be reduced to that amount the special event organizer is able to pay, provided the special event organizer submits a sworn affidavit, on a form provided by the city attorney, containing the following information: (1) A statement that the special event organizer and the group or organization on whose behalf the application is made are unable to pay the full amount of the permit fee for the parade; and (2) A statement of the exact amount the special event organizer and the group or organization on whose behalf the application is made are able to pay for the permit fee at the time the application is delivered to MOSE. (g) Applications for parade permits shall be delivered to MOSE between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday. (h) Applications for parade permits may be filed no earlier than the 365th day prior to the date of the requested parade, provided that if the 365th day falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, then the application may be filed no earlier than the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday. Prematurely filed applications, or applications that do not meet all requirements of this section, shall be of no force and effect and shall be returned to the special event organizer. (i) The numbers of parade permits that may be issued shall be subject to the following limitations: (1) Only one permit shall be issued for a parade to be conducted in the downtown area on the same day; (2) Only four permits may be issued for parades to be conducted on the same calendar day in the city limits; and (3) Permits may not be issued for conflicting times. For purposes of this provision, parades are considered to be conflicting if their starting times are less than four hours apart; provided, however, the Director of Houston Public Works, in conjunction with the police chief, may exercise professional judgment in waiving the aforementioned four-hour provision provided: a. The proposed parades will not substantially disrupt the use of any street in and around the parade route's respective locations; and b. The Director of Houston Public Works and police chief: [1] Determine that their respective departments have the appropriate amount of city personnel and resources available to monitor the parades based upon the estimated number of parade participants; or [2] Approve a special event organizer's submitted security control plans and traffic control plans to hire and pay all personnel necessary to provide security control services and traffic control services along the proposed parade routes. (j) Parade permits shall be issued in the order in which completed applications that comply with all applicable requirements of this article are received by MOSE. (Ord. No. 2010-911, § 2(Exh. A), 12-1-2010; Ord. No. 2011-1168, § 13, 12-14-2011; Ord. No. 2018-11, § 49, 1-10-2018)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 25-106 Application information.

Sec. 25-106. - Application information. The application for a parade permit shall contain the following information: (1) The name, address, and telephone number of the special event organizer, as well as the name, address, and telephone number of the individual who will be on-site and in charge of conducting the parade for the special event organizer and will be responsible to city officials for ensuring that the parade is conducted in compliance with this article and other applicable laws. (2) The date requested for the parade and the time of day requested. (3) The estimated duration of the parade and proposed route thereof. (4) The estimated number of animals that will be used in the parade. (5) The estimated number of individual persons who will participate in the parade. (6) The estimated number, if any, of animals and riders, animal-drawn vehicles, floats, motor vehicles, motorized displays, and marching units or organizations, such as bands, color guards, and drill teams, that will participate in the parade. (7) A statement that the individual submitting the application is fully authorized to act and contract for the special event organizer, together with documents satisfactory to the MOSE director showing the authority of such individual. (8) A provision, in a form approved by the city attorney, whereby the special event organizer contracts and agrees to indemnify and hold the city harmless against liability for any and all claims, judgments, and associated expenses, for damage to property or injury to or death of persons arising out of or resulting from conduct of the parade proximately caused by or resulting from the acts or omissions of the special event organizer or any person under their control, insofar as permitted by law. (9) If required by section 25-112 of this Code, either proof of the required insurance or a declaration that proof of insurance will be provided within the time set forth in that section. (10) A provision whereby the special event organizer and any other persons, associations, organizations, firms, or corporations on whose behalf the application is made agree to comply with any special requirements that may be imposed or created by virtue of the proposed nature or size of the parade. (11) A declaration as to the status of the parade as a revenue-generating or non-revenue-generating parade. (12) A declaration that the special event organizer prefers to either: a. Provide all necessary security control services and traffic control services with non-city personnel; or b. Reimburse the city for the provision of security control services and traffic control services as provided in section 25-102 of this Code. Such declaration by the special event organizer shall be final. (13) A provision whereby the special event organizer agrees to modify the proposed parade route, subject to the review and written approval of the Director of Houston Public Works and police chief, if: a. The Director of Houston Public Works and police chief determine that the time, route, or size of the proposed parade will substantially disrupt the use of any street that is ordinarily subject to significant traffic congestion; b. The MOSE director is unable to secure the requisite approval of the use of any freeway entrance and/or exit ramps or any portion of a state-owned highway or road included in the proposed parade route; and/or c. The Director of Houston Public Works and police chief determine that the proposed parade will substantially affect the city's ability to deliver police, fire, and medical emergency services to the proposed parade location and in the vicinity of the proposed parade location. The special event organizer shall provide the requisite modified parade route not more than two calendar days after receipt of notice from the MOSE director. (14) A statement that the special event organizer agrees to provide any other information required by the MOSE director. (Ord. No. 2010-911, § 2(Exh. A), 12-1-2010; Ord. No. 2018-11, § 49, 1-10-2018)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 25-107 When application for parade permit is deemed complete.

Sec. 25-107. - When application for parade permit is deemed complete. An application for a parade permit is deemed completed when the special event organizer has provided all of the information required in section 25-106 of this Code including proof of insurance and any additional information required by the MOSE director pursuant to items (9) and (14) of section 25-106 of this Code and paid any fees or reimbursements due to the city pursuant to this or any previous permit from the city. (Ord. No. 2010-911, § 2(Exh. A), 12-1-2010)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 25-108 Reasons for denial of a parade permit.

Sec. 25-108. - Reasons for denial of a parade permit. (a) The MOSE director may deny a parade permit if the special event organizer has failed to meet all of the requirements for submitting an application for a parade permit. (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), the MOSE director may deny a parade permit if, after reviewing the application: (1) The special event organizer demonstrates an inability or unwillingness to conduct a parade pursuant to the terms and conditions of this article; (2) The special event organizer demonstrates an inability or unwillingness to conduct a parade pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in the parade permit application; (3) The special event organizer has failed to submit a timely parade permit application in accordance with subsections (b) and (h) of section 25-105 of this Code; (4) The parade will significantly affect the ability of the city to render necessary services to its residents, based upon its equipment and personnel resources and other ongoing functions and responsibilities of its affected departments, including the police and fire departments and Houston Public Works; or (5) The special event organizer has been informed that the proposed parade route must be modified in accordance with item (13) of section 25-106 of this Code and the special event organizer fails or refuses to modify the proposed parade route. (Ord. No. 2010-911, § 2(Exh. A), 12-1-2010; Ord. No. 2018-11, § 18, 1-10-2018)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 25-109 Procedure upon permit denial.

Sec. 25-109. - Procedure upon permit denial. The MOSE director shall notify the special event organizer of any permit denial, and the reasons therefore, by placing such notice in the United States mail, certified, return receipt requested. Such letter shall be addressed to the special event organizer at the address stated on the application. (Ord. No. 2010-911, § 2(Exh. A), 12-1-2010)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 25-110 Revocation of permit.

Sec. 25-110. - Revocation of permit. (a) A permit may be revoked if the MOSE director determines that: (1) A violation of any condition of the permit exists, including failure to obtain written approval for any security control plans or other plans required under this Code or to implement any such plans; (2) The parade poses an immediate threat to health or safety; (3) The special event organizer or any person associated with the event has failed to obtain any other permit required pursuant to this Code or other applicable law; (4) The permit was issued in error or contrary to law; (5) The parade has changed from a parade that does not require insurance to a parade that requires insurance; or (6) The special event organizer demonstrates an inability or unwillingness to conduct a parade pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in the parade permit application. (b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, notice of revocation shall be in writing and set forth specifically the reasons for the revocation. (c) Any threat to health or safety requiring immediate revocation of a permit shall authorize the MOSE director or any other person authorized by the city to notify the special event organizer verbally of such revocation. (d) The appeal of a revocation shall be handled in the same manner and under the same time requirements as denials of permits. (Ord. No. 2010-911, § 2(Exh. A), 12-1-2010)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 25-111 Appeal from permit denial or revocation.

Sec. 25-111. - Appeal from permit denial or revocation. All appeals of the denial or revocation of a permit shall be conducted in the same manner provided in section 25-11 of this Code. (Ord. No. 2010-911, § 2(Exh. A), 12-1-2010)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 25-112 Insurance.

Sec. 25-112. - Insurance. (a) No final parade permit shall be issued by the MOSE director for a parade to include any number of animals, floats, or motorized vehicles unless the special event organizer has delivered to the MOSE director proof that the insurance required by this section has been obtained by the special event organizer. Proof of insurance required for a parade to include any number of animals, floats, or motorized vehicles shall be delivered to the MOSE director not less than ten business days before the proposed parade date. (b) Any special event organizer who fails to provide the requisite proof of insurance not less than ten business days before the proposed parade date shall not be granted a final parade permit. Any conditional parade permit which may have been previously issued shall be revoked by operation of law. (c) The proof of insurance required by this section for a parade to include any number of animals, floats or motorized vehicles not subject to state safety responsibility laws shall consist of a current policy of commercial general liability insurance to include designated premises of the parade route, staging area, and disbanding area. The policy shall bear an endorsement for the contractually assumed liability as set forth in item (8) of section 25-106 of this Code. The required policy shall name the city as an additional insured and be issued by a carrier authorized to transact business in Texas. Each policy shall contain an endorsement that the issuer waives any claim or right of subrogation to recover against the city, its officers, agents, or employees. The insurance shall contain policy limits of not less than the following: (1) Commercial general liability insurance with a minimum limit of: a. For property damage, $1,000,000.00 for each occurrence; and b. For bodily injury or death, $1,000,000.00 for each occurrence. (2) Automobile liability insurance, covering all owned, hired and non-owned vehicles with a minimum limit of bodily injury and property damage of $1,000,000.00 combined single limit. (d) The proof of insurance required by this section for a parade to include motorized vehicles subject to state safety responsibility laws may be in the form provided in subsection (c) or alternatively consist of proof of compliance with state safety responsibility laws for each vehicle. (Ord. No. 2010-911, § 2(Exh. A), 12-1-2010)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 25-113 Final permit.

Sec. 25-113. - Final permit. A final permit shall be issued only when the MOSE director determines that a special event organizer has provided all information, including proof of insurance and any additional information, required pursuant to section 25-106 of this Code. (Ord. No. 2010-911, § 2(Exh. A), 12-1-2010)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 25-114 Parades exempt from permits.

Sec. 25-114. - Parades exempt from permits. (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of this article, no permit shall be required for a parade that meets all of the following restrictions: (1) The parade shall not contain more than 250 individuals nor more than 12 vehicles or animals. (2) The parade shall not contain any number of animals or vehicles that are not licensed to travel on public streets. (3) The parade route shall not exceed one mile in length, shall contain no portion of a major thoroughfare or major collector street and may contain no streets located within the downtown area. (4) The parade shall comply with the time restrictions contained in subsection (b)(3) of section 25-104 of this Code and shall take no longer than one hour to complete. (5) The parade sponsors shall provide necessary traffic control services. (b) The person who intend to conduct a parade under this section shall provide written notice of the time, day, and place of the parade to the MOSE director by hand delivering the notice or by mailing the notice by certified mail to be received by MOSE not less than ten business days before the parade. (c) The city shall not be responsible for providing police officers or other city employees to perform traffic control functions during a parade held under authority of this section. (Ord. No. 2010-911, § 2(Exh. A), 12-1-2010)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 25-115 Staging and disbanding areas; other uses of public streets and sidewalks.

Sec. 25-115. - Staging and disbanding areas; other uses of public streets and sidewalks. Consistent with traffic mobility and access considerations, the Director of Houston Public Works and the MOSE director, in consultation with the police chief, may allow public streets to be used by parade permit holders as staging and disbanding areas for parades. The use of public streets and sidewalks for purposes other than staging or disbanding are subject to the regulations set forth in article II of this chapter and sections 40-361 through 40-378 of this Code. The closure of freeway ramps associated with a parade requires the submission to the Director of Houston Public Works of a signed and sealed traffic control plan and proof of compliance with all insurance requirements at least 90 days prior to the scheduled parade date. (Ord. No. 2010-911, § 2(Exh. A), 12-1-2010; Ord. No. 2018-11, § 49, 1-10-2018)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 25-116 Regulations.

Sec. 25-116. - Regulations. Consistent with the provisions of this article and other applicable laws, the MOSE director may issue regulations governing the issuance of parade permits and the conduct of parades. The regulations shall be subject to the approval of the city attorney. A copy of any regulations so promulgated shall be made available upon request in the MOSE director's office for inspection and for purchase at the copy fee provided by law. (Ord. No. 2010-911, § 2(Exh. A), 12-1-2010)

Source: City of Houston, Code of Ordinances and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/houston/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH25SPEV_ARTIIIPAFetched: 10/26/2026