Parades, Races and Public Assemblies

Saint Paul Legislative Code tit. XXIX, ch. 366A

in effect

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 366A.01 Permit required.

Sec. 366A.01. - Permit required. (a) No person shall engage in or conduct any parade, race or public assembly without a permit issued by the chief of police. (b) This section does not apply to National Night Out neighborhood gatherings. (c) This section does not apply to permits to use the skyway for a parade, race or public assembly under Section 140.06.1 of the Saint Paul Legislative Code. (C.F. No. 05-220, § 1, 7-6-05; C.F. No. 07-926, § 1, 10-24-07)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 366A.02 Definitions.

Sec. 366A.02. - Definitions. (a) Chief of police means the chief of police of the city or his/her designee. (b) City means the City of Saint Paul. (c) Parade means any march, demonstration, procession, or motorcade, consisting of persons, animals or vehicles or a combination thereof upon the streets, sidewalks or other public grounds within the city that interferes with the normal flow or regulation of traffic upon the streets, sidewalks or other public grounds. (d) Parade, race or public assembly permit means a permit as required by this chapter. (e) Person means any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company or organization of any kind. (f) Public assembly means any meeting, demonstration, picket line, rally or gathering of more than twenty-five (25) persons for a common purpose as a result of prior planning in or upon any street, sidewalk or other public grounds in a place open to the general public. (g) Race means any scheduled public event or gathering of persons for athletic events that move from one location to another such as bicycle or running races. (h) Sidewalk is any area or way set aside or open to the general public for purposes of pedestrian traffic, whether or not it is paved. (i) Street is any place or way set aside or open to the general public for purposes of vehicular traffic, including any berm or shoulder parkway, right-of-way or median strip thereof. (C.F. No. 05-220, § 1, 7-6-05; C.F. No. 07-926, § 1, 10-24-07)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 366A.03 Exceptions.

Sec. 366A.03. - Exceptions. The permit requirement described in section 366A.01 shall not apply to the following: (a) Funeral processions; (b) Students going to and from school classes or participating in educational activities, provided that such conduct is under the immediate direction and supervision of the proper school authorities; (c) A governmental agency acting within the scope of its functions; and (d) Parades, races or public assemblies in parks, which are governed by Legislative Code Chapter 170. (C.F. No. 05-220, § 1, 7-6-05; C.F. No. 07-926, § 1, 10-24-07)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 366A.04 Application.

Sec. 366A.04. - Application. (a) A person seeking a parade, race or public assembly permit shall file an application with the chief of police on forms provided by such officer. In order to ensure the timely appeal in the event of a permit denial, it is recommended that applications be filed at least ninety (90) days prior to the event. Nevertheless, any application filed within the minimum filing periods prescribed in subsection (b) below, shall be processed during business hours. (b) For single parades, races or public assemblies that do not recur on an annual basis, an application for a permit shall be filed with the chief of police as follows: (1) At least fourteen (14) business days in advance of the proposed event for parades or races of fewer than two hundred (200) participants and fewer than thirty (30) vehicles and animals; (2) At least twenty (20) business days in advance of the proposed event for parades or races of two hundred (200) or more participants, or thirty (30) or more vehicles and animals: (3) At least five (5) calendar days in advance of the proposed event for public assemblies of fewer than one hundred (100) participants which will not interfere with the normal flow or regulation of vehicular traffic; (4) At least seven (7) business days in advance of the proposed event for public assemblies of one hundred (100) or more participants or which will, regardless of size, interfere with the normal flow or regulation of vehicular traffic; (5) No application shall be filed more than three hundred sixty-five (365) days before the parade, race or public assembly is proposed to commence. (6) The chief of police may waive the minimum filing periods set forth above and accept an application filed within a shorter period if, after due consideration of the date, time, place and nature of the parade, race or public assembly, the anticipated number of participants, and the city services required in connection with the event, the chief of police determines that the waiver will not present a hazard to public safety. When determining whether to waive the minimum filing period, the chief of police may not consider the speech content of the event. (c) For parades, races or public assemblies held on an annual or recurring basis at the same location, an application for a permit covering all such parades, races or public assemblies during that calendar year may be filed with the chief of police at least ninety (90) and not more than three hundred sixty-five (365) days before the date and time at which the first such parade, race or public assembly is proposed to commence. The chief of police may waive the minimum ninety (90) days period after due consideration of the factors specified in subsection (b)(6) above. (d) The application for a parade, race or public assembly permit shall set forth the following information: (1) The name, address, email address, and telephone number of the person seeking to conduct such parade, race or public assembly; this person should be the person in charge or chairperson of the parade, race or public assembly; (2) The names, addresses and telephone numbers of the headquarters of the organization for which the parade, race or public assembly is to be conducted, if any, and the authorized and responsible heads of the organization; (3) The requested date of the parade, race or public assembly; (4) The location of the parade, race or public assembly and the route to be traveled, including the starting point and the termination point; (5) The hours when such parade, race or public assembly will start and terminate; (6) The statement as to whether the parade, race or public assembly will occupy all or only a portion of the width of the streets proposed to be traversed; (7) The location by street of any assembly areas for such parade, race or public assembly; (8) The time at which units of the parade, race or public assembly will begin to assemble at any such area; (9) Reserved. (10) If the parade, race or public assembly is designed to be held by, or on behalf of, any person other than the applicant, the applicant for such permit shall file a letter from that person with the chief of police authorizing the applicant to apply for the permit on his behalf; (11) The type of parade, race or public assembly, including a description of activities planned during the event; (12) A description of any sound amplification equipment and locations of points of origin of amplified sound to be used in connection with the parade, race or public assembly; (13) The approximate number of participants (spectators are by definition not participants), including the type and number of animals and vehicles; (14) The approximate number of spectators reasonably anticipated; (15) A designation of any public facilities or equipment to be utilized; and (16) Where the event is in an area covering two (2) blocks or fewer of sidewalks, streets or other public property, the addresses of any properties that abut the location of the parade, race or public assembly; (17) Where the event is in an area covering two (2) blocks or fewer of sidewalks, streets or other public property, a signed statement by the permit applicant stating that all the addresses of any properties that abut the location of the parade, race or public assembly, have received notification of the event. (18) A written waste management plan demonstrating how the applicant will comply with the recycling requirements and waste reduction objectives as set forth in section 366A.13(d). (19) Any additional information that the chief of police finds reasonably necessary to a fair determination as to whether a permit should be issued. (C.F. No. 05-220, § 1, 7-6-05; Ord No. 07-926, § 1, 10-24-07; Ord 13-63, § 1, 2-12-14; Ord 16-7, 4-13-16)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 366A.05 Fees.

Sec. 366A.05. - Fees. (a) A nonrefundable fee of ten dollars ($10.00) to cover administrative costs of processing the permit shall be paid to the city by the applicant when the application is filed. (b) If the application is for the use of any city property or if any city services shall be required for the parade, race or public assembly, the applicant shall pay, prior to the issuance of a permit, the charges for those services in accordance with a schedule of service costs approved by the city council by resolution. (c) The chief of police shall determine whether, and to what extent, additional police protection is reasonably necessary for a parade, race or public assembly for traffic control and public safety. The chief of police shall base this decision on the following factors: (1) Staging. a. The number of streets or sidewalks to be controlled and/or closed; b. The type of street or sidewalk to be controlled and/or closed, which shall take into consideration the vehicular and pedestrian traffic flow on the street or sidewalk; c. The time of day and day of week of the event; d. The amount of vehicular and pedestrian traffic required to be rerouted as a result of the event; e. The number of electric traffic control devices that are required to be operated manually by police officers as a result of the event; f. The number of traffic/pedestrian control cones and parade barricades that are required to be used as a result of the event; g. The characteristics of the event and the area of the event, to include the type and volume of the event traffic and the speed limits of the area. The type of traffic could include, but is not limited to, types of vehicles, pedestrian, and animals in the event; and h. The number of supervisors with the requirement that there be at least one (1) supervisor if there are five (5) or more officers assigned to the event. (2) Event control point. a. The number and size of intersections to be controlled or closed; and b. The number of supervisors required as set forth above. (3) Event. a. Whether or not the sponsors are requesting a ceremonial parade escort; b. The size of the event in terms of the number of participants, spectators, vehicles and animals; c. The time of day and day of week of the event; d. The number of residences and businesses that are affected by the event; and e. The type of intersections that are affected by the event. (4) Disbanding. a. Size and characteristics of the event. (d) The speech content of the event shall not be a factor in determining the amount of police protection necessary for the purposes of assessing a fee. (e) If possible, without disruption of ordinary police services or compromise of public safety, regularly scheduled on-duty personnel will police the event. If additional police protection for the event is deemed necessary by the chief of police upon consideration of the factors set forth in subsection (c), he shall so inform the applicant for the permit. The applicant must then pay for the additional police services at the established formula rates. The stablished formula rate for regular on-duty officers is regular salary, plus regular fringe benefits, plus regular worker compensation. The established formula rate for overtime officers is overtime salary, plus overtime fringe benefits, plus overtime worker compensation. All formula salary and fringe benefit rates are established at the ten-year rate for each officer's rank, as found in the current city police federation agreement plus the current worker compensation rates for the police department. (C.F. No. 05-220, § 1, 7-6-05; Ord No. 07-926, § 1, 10-24-07)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 366A.06 Standards for issuance.

Sec. 366A.06. - Standards for issuance. (a) The chief of police shall issue a permit as provided for herein when, from a consideration of the application and from such other information as may otherwise be obtained, he finds that: (1) The conduct of the parade, race or public assembly will not substantially interrupt the safe and orderly movement of other pedestrian or vehicular traffic contiguous to its route or location; (2) The conduct of the parade, race or public assembly will not require the diversion of so great a number of city police officers to properly police the line of movement and the areas contiguous thereto that the deployment of police services for the proposed parade, race or public assembly would have an immediate and adverse effect upon the welfare and safety of persons and property; (3) The concentration of vehicles, persons and animals at public assembly points of the parade, race or public assembly will not unduly interfere with proper fire and police protection of, or ambulance service to, areas contiguous to such parade, race or public assembly; (4) The conduct of the parade, race or public assembly is not reasonably likely to cause injury to persons or property and will not, on its face, violate any federal, state or city law, regulation, or ordinance; (5) The parade, race or public assembly is scheduled to move from its point of origin to its point of termination expeditiously and without unreasonable delays en route; (6) Adequate sanitation and other required health facilities are or will be made available in or adjacent to any parade, race or public assembly areas; (7) There are sufficient parking places near the beginning and end sites of the parade, race or public assembly to accommodate the number of vehicles reasonably expected; (8) The applicant has paid all fees required under section 366A.05; (9) No parade, race or public assembly permit application for the same time and location is already granted, or has been received and will be granted, and no event listed in section 366A.03 is already scheduled for the same time and location; (10) For new weekend events, no parade, race or public assembly permit has been granted for the same public roadway in a manner that obstructs vehicular traffic either the weekend before or the weekend after the date of the proposed event. (11) The conduct of the parade, race or public assembly will not interfere with previously scheduled construction or maintenance projects upon or along streets or sidewalks; (12) No parade, race or public assembly permit application for the same time but different location is already granted or has been received and will be granted, and the police resources required for that prior parade, race or public assembly are so great that, in combination with the subsequent proposed permit, the resulting deployment of police services would have an immediate and adverse effect upon the welfare and safety of persons and property; and (13) No event is scheduled elsewhere in the city where the police resources required for that event are so great that the deployment of police services for the proposed parade, race or public assembly would have an immediate and adverse effect upon the welfare and safety of persons and property. (b) No permit shall be granted that allows a parade, race or public assembly to occur between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. (c) In determining whether to grant or deny a permit, the chief of police shall not consider: (1) The content of the speech, message, views or expression of the parade, race or public assembly or its participants; (2) The potential conduct of spectators and other nonparticipants in response or reaction to the content of the speech, message, views or expression of the parade, race or public assembly or its participants. (C.F. No. 05-220, § 1, 7-6-05; C.F. No. 07-926, § 1, 10-24-07; Ord 16-7, 4-13-16)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 366A.07 Nondiscrimination.

Sec. 366A.07. - Nondiscrimination. The chief of police shall uniformly consider each application upon its merits and shall not discriminate in granting or denying permits under this chapter based upon speech content or upon political, religious, ethnic, race, disability, sexual orientation or gender related grounds. (C.F. No. 05-220, § 1, 7-6-05; C.F. No. 07-926, § 1, 10-24-07)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 366A.08 Notice of grant or denial of application.

Sec. 366A.08. - Notice of grant or denial of application. (a) The chief of police shall act promptly upon a timely filed application for a parade, race or public assembly permit but in no event shall grant or deny a permit less than forty-eight (48) hours prior to the event. Applications filed more than thirty (30) days in advance of the proposed event shall be processed within seven (7) days. Applications filed more than ninety (90) days in advance of the event shall be processed within twenty-one (21) days. (b) If the chief of police waives the minimum filing period and accepts for processing an untimely application, he shall act upon the application as expeditiously as possible, but must grant or deny the permit prior to the commencement of the proposed event. (c) If the chief of police disapproves the application, he shall promptly notify the applicant of his action in writing, either by personal delivery or certified mail, or by facsimile or email with confirmation of delivery and transmittal of a copy by U.S. Mail, and state the reasons for denial. (C.F. No. 05-220, § 1, 7-6-05; C.F. No. 07-926, § 1, 10-24-07; Ord 16-7, 4-13-16)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 366A.09 Alternative permit.

Sec. 366A.09. - Alternative permit. (a) The chief of police, in denying an application for a parade, race or public assembly permit, may authorize the conduct of the parade, race or public assembly at a date, time, location, or route different from that named by the applicant. An applicant desiring to accept an alternate permit shall, within five (5) days after notice of the action of the chief of police, file a written notice of acceptance with the chief of police. (b) An alternate parade, race or public assembly permit shall conform to the requirements of, and shall have the effect of, a parade, race or public assembly permit issued under this chapter. (C.F. No. 05-220, § 1, 7-6-05; C.F. No. 07-926, § 1, 10-24-07)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 366A.10 Appeal procedure.

Sec. 366A.10. - Appeal procedure. (a) Any applicant shall have the right to appeal the denial of a parade, race or public assembly permit to the city council. The denied applicant shall make the appeal within five (5) days after receipt of the denial by filing a written notice with the chief of police and a copy of the notice with the city clerk. The city council shall act upon the appeal at the next scheduled meeting following receipt of the notice of appeal. (b) In the event that the city council rejects an applicant's appeal, the applicant may file an immediate request for review with a court of competent jurisdiction. (C.F. No. 05-220, § 1, 7-6-05; C.F. No. 07-926, § 1, 10-24-07)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 366A.11 Notice to city and other officials.

Sec. 366A.11. - Notice to city and other officials. Immediately upon the issuance of a parade, race or public assembly permit, the chief of police shall send a copy thereof to the following: (a) The mayor; (b) The fire chief; (c) The director of the department of public works; (d) The manager or responsible head of the metropolitan transit commission; and (e) The city council. (f) The district council(s) representing areas affected by the parade, race, or public assembly. (C.F. No. 05-220, § 1, 7-6-05; C.F. No. 07-926, § 1, 10-24-07; Ord 16-7, 4-13-16)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 366A.12 Contents of permit.

Sec. 366A.12. - Contents of permit. Each parade, race or public assembly permit shall state the following information: (a) Starting and approximate ending time; (b) Minimum speed of parade units; (c) Maximum speed of parade units; (d) Reserved; (e) The portions of the streets that may be occupied by the parade, race or public assembly; (f) The maximum length of the parade or race in miles or fractions thereof; and (g) Whether there will be amplified sound and the locations of all amplified sound; and (h) Such other information as the chief of police shall find necessary to the enforcement of this chapter. (C.F. No. 05-220, § 1, 7-6-05; C.F. No. 07-926, § 1, 10-24-07; Ord 16-7, 4-13-16)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 366A.13 Duties of permitted.

Sec. 366A.13. - Duties of permitted. (a) A permitted hereunder shall comply with all permit directions and conditions and with all applicable laws and ordinances; and (b) The parade, race or public assembly chairperson or other person in charge of such activity shall carry the parade, race or public assembly permit upon their person during the conduct of the parade, race or public assembly. (c) The purpose of this section is to have recycling options that are proportional to trash collection services. All parades, races or public assemblies must provide for the collection and proper disposal of recyclable material separate from non-recyclable materials. Recyclable materials may include but are not limited to: metal, glass or plastic food and beverage containers, corrugated cardboard, boxboard, plastic film or other packaging, or miscellaneous paper. (d) Sixty (60) days prior to the parade, race or public assembly the permit applicant must provide a written plan to the city for review and approval demonstrating how the event applicant will comply with the recycling requirements and waste reduction objectives outlined in this subdivision. At a minimum the waste management plan will detail: efforts to reduce waste by evaluating the potential waste stream (types of trash, recyclable and/or organic (food waste and compostable) materials) generated at the event, a plan for collection and proper disposal of all materials, how education and signage (posted for staff, volunteers and attendees) will be addressed as well as the name of trash/recycling/organics service provider(s). (e) Arrangements must be made for the delivery of all recyclable material to a valid recyclable materials processing facility, transfer station or drop off center promptly after completion of the parade, race or public assembly. Where applicable, arrangements must be made for the delivery of all organic materials to an appropriate organic materials processing facility or transfer station. (f) Within thirty (30) business days following the parade, race or public assembly the permit holder must submit the following: a valid recyclable materials processing facility, transfer station, or recycling drop off center weight ticket; photographs; or other written evidence acceptable to the city, verifying that all recyclable materials were delivered to an appropriate disposal facility. Where applicable, within thirty (30) business days following the parade, race or public assembly, the permit holder must submit the following: a valid organic materials processing facility or transfer station weight ticket; photographs; or other written evidence acceptable to the city, verifying that all organic materials were delivered to an appropriate disposal facility. Failure to comply with any part of this section may result in forfeiture of the security posted or additional fees being charged. (C.F. No. 05-220, § 1, 7-6-05; C.F. No. 07-926, § 1, 10-24-07; Ord 13-63, § 2, 2-12-14)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 366A.14 Prohibitions.

Sec. 366A.14. - Prohibitions. The following prohibitions shall apply to all parades, races and public assemblies: (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to stage, present or conduct any parade, race or public assembly without first having obtained a permit as herein provided; (b) It shall be unlawful for any person to participate in a parade, race or public assembly for which the person knows a permit has not been granted; (c) It shall be unlawful for the chairperson or any person in charge of, or responsible for the conduct of, a duly licensed parade, race or public assembly to knowingly fail to comply with any condition of the permit; (d) It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in any parade, race or public assembly activity that would constitute a substantial hazard to the public safety or that would materially interfere with or endanger the public peace or rights of residents to the quiet and peaceful enjoyment of their property; (e) It shall be unlawful for any person participating in any parade, race or public assembly to carry or possess any length of metal, lumber, wood, or similar material for purposes of displaying a sign, poster, plaque or notice, unless such object is one-fourth (¼) inch or less in thickness and two (2) inches or less in width, or if not generally rectangular in shape, such object shall not exceed three-fourths (¾) inch in its thickest dimension; (f) It shall be unlawful for any person participating in a parade, race or public assembly to utilize sound amplification equipment at decibel levels that exceed those limits imposed by federal, state or city law, regulation, or ordinance without a variance granted by the council pursuant to Legislative Code chapter 293; and (g) It shall be unlawful for any person to ride, drive, or cause to be ridden or driven, any animal or any animal-drawn vehicle upon any public street, unless specifically authorized by the permit. (C.F. No. 05-220, § 1, 7-6-05; C.F. No. 07-926, § 1, 10-24-07; Ord 16-7, 4-13-16)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 366A.15 Public conduct during parades, races or public assemblies.

Sec. 366A.15. - Public conduct during parades, races or public assemblies. (a) No person shall unreasonably hamper, obstruct or impede, or interfere with any parade, race or public assembly or with any person, vehicle or animal participating or used in a parade, race or public assembly; (b) No driver of a vehicle shall drive between the vehicles or persons comprising a parade, race or public assembly when such vehicles or persons are in motion and are conspicuously designated as a parade, race or public assembly; and (c) The chief of police shall have the authority, when reasonably necessary, to prohibit or restrict the parking of vehicles along a street constituting a part of the route of a parade, race or public assembly. The chief of police shall post signs to that 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 chapter. (C.F. No. 05-220, § 1, 7-6-05; C.F. No. 07-926, § 1, 10-24-07)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 366A.16 Revocation of permit.

Sec. 366A.16. - Revocation of permit. The chief of police shall have the authority to revoke a parade, race or public assembly permit instantly upon violation of the conditions or standards for issuance as set forth in this chapter or when a public emergency arises where the police resources required for that emergency are so great that deployment of police services for the parade, race or public assembly would have an immediate and adverse effect upon the welfare and safety of persons or property. (C.F. No. 05-220, § 1, 7-6-05; C.F. No. 07-926, § 1, 10-24-07)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 366A.17 Penalties.

Sec. 366A.17. - Penalties. Any person violating the provisions of any section of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. (C.F. No. 05-220, § 1, 7-6-05; C.F. No. 07-926, § 1, 10-24-07)

Saint Paul Legislative Code § 366A.18 Severability.

Sec. 366A.18. - Severability. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this chapter is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by the decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this chapter. (C.F. No. 05-220, § 1, 7-6-05; C.F. No. 07-926, § 1, 10-24-07)

Source: City of Saint Paul, Minnesota, City Charter, Legislative Code and Administrative Code (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/mn/st._paul/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIILECO_TITXXIXLI_CH366APARAPUASFetched: 11/1/2026