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PARADES

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County tit. 12, ch. 12.56
in effect

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 12.56.020 Definitions.

12.56.020 - Definitions. As used in this chapter, the following terms shall mean: "Chief of police" means the chief of police of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, or his/her designee. "Metro" means the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. "Parade" means any march or procession of any kind, in or upon any street, sidewalk, alley or other public place, held for the purpose of expressing First Amendment freedoms in the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee. "Parade permit" means a permit as required by this chapter. "Person" means any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company or organization of any kind. "Recreational purpose" means any march or procession of any kind, in or upon any street, sidewalk, alley or other public place in the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee, including but not limited to footraces, walk-a-thons and fundraising events, wherein the purpose of such march or procession is unrelated to the expression of First Amendment freedoms. (Ord. 89-796 § 2, 1989)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 12.56.030 Permit—Required when—Application.

12.56.030 - Permit—Required when—Application. No person shall parade, unless a parade permit has been obtained from the chief of police, or his/her designee, upon application filed with the chief of police not less than six days before the date on which it is proposed to conduct the parade. Any request for a permit to parade in or upon a park shall be approved by the director of parks and recreation, in accordance with Section 13.24.150. ((Part) of Amdt. 1 to Ord. 89-796, 6/6/89; Ord. 89-796 § 3 (part), 1989)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 12.56.040 Exceptions from chapter applicability.

12.56.040 - Exceptions from chapter applicability. This chapter shall not apply to: A. Funeral processions; B. Picketing, marches or processions of any kind which will be conducted entirely upon the sidewalk. If more than twenty people will be involved, the organizer shall write the chief of police four days prior to the planned date of the picketing, march or procession, setting out the date and time, route, number of participants expected, and purpose; C. Any parade or similar activity to be conducted on property subject to the jurisdiction of the board of parks and recreation. ((Part) of Amdt. 1 to Ord. 89-796, 6/6/89; Ord. 89-796 § 3 (part), 1989)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 12.56.050 Permit—Application filing procedures—Police chief authority.

12.56.050 - Permit—Application filing procedures—Police chief authority. A. The chief of police is authorized to establish a procedure for filing an application for a parade permit, the specified times, if any, when a parade may be held in the interest of public safety, and any other provisions necessary to the implementation of this chapter. B. The chief of police shall have the authority to reasonably modify the route, time and place of a parade to facilitate crowd control in the interest of relieving congestion and promoting public safety, provided that the applicant's right to free speech is not denied. (Ord. 89-796 § 5, 1989)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 12.56.060 Permit—Issuance conditions.

12.56.060 - Permit—Issuance conditions. The chief of police shall issue a permit, except where the time, place and manner are not in conformity with the rules set out below, or except where the permit would conflict as to time or place with a permit previously issued: A. The time, route and size of the parade shall not substantially disrupt the safe use and orderly movement of other traffic contiguous to its route. The applicant shall submit a copy of the parade application to the public events committee; B. The conduct of the parade shall not require the diversion of so great a number of police officers to properly police the line of movement and the areas contiguous thereto as to prevent normal police protection to Metro; C. When held for a recreational purpose, the parade shall be supervised by security personnel, the employment of which shall be at the sole expense of the applicant. The chief of police, or his/her designee, shall reasonably determine the number of security personnel needed for the safe conduct of the parade, and shall inform the applicant four days before the event so that the applicant can provide appropriate evidence that proper security personnel have been retained prior to the issuance of the permit; D. The applicant has provided for the services of the number of parade monitors as set forth in established department regulations, to insure that the parade will be conducted in conformity with the parade permit; E. The parade shall not interrupt normal ambulance service to portions of Metro other than that to be occupied by the proposed line of march and areas contiguous thereto; F. The concentration of persons, animals and vehicles at assembly points of the parade shall not unduly interfere with proper fire and police protection of, or ambulance service to, areas contiguous to such assembly areas; G. The conduct of such parade will not interfere with the movement of firefighting equipment en route to a fire; H. The parade is not to be held for the sole purpose of advertising any product, goods or event, and is not designed to be held purely for private profit; however, nothing contained herein will prohibit the advertising of any product, goods or event identifying organizations or sponsors furnishing or sponsoring floats or transportation for the parade; I. The applicant has satisfied all of the financial requirements of Sections 12.56.120 through 12.56.140, if applicable. (Ord. 89-796 § 4, 1989)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 12.56.070 Financial responsibility restrictions—Insurance required when—Recreational parades.

12.56.070 - Financial responsibility restrictions—Insurance required when—Recreational parades. A. The applicant for a parade permit for a recreational purpose, and any other persons, organizations, firms or corporations on whose behalf the application is made, by filing the application, do represent, stipulate, contract and agree that they will jointly and severally indemnify and hold Metro harmless against liability for any and all claims for damage to property, injury to or the death of persons arising out of or resulting from the issuance of the permit, or the conduct of the parade or its participants. B. In addition to the requirements of subsection A of this section, in the event a parade is held for a recreational purpose, and is comprised of pedestrians and vehicles or animals, no permit shall be issued unless the applicant shall obtain a comprehensive general liability insurance policy. If motor vehicles are involved, an automobile liability policy, issued by an insurance company authorized to do business in the state with a Best Key Rating of A/VII or better, with coverage that includes the assembly area, the parade route, the disbanding area of the parade, and any other area used by the participants of the parade. Metro shall be named as an additional insured on the policy. Up to one million dollars of single-limit general liability and automobile liability insurance covering both bodily injury and property damage may be required for issuance of a parade permit. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to parades held for a recreational purpose composed entirely of pedestrians. C. At the time of the application for a parade permit for a recreational use, satisfactory proof that the insurance required by subsection B has been obtained shall be presented to the chief of police. The requirement for satisfactory proof may be complied 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 shall be listed, and for each policy the type of insurance, policy number, expiration date and limits of liability shall be shown; 2. The certificate shall designate Metro as certificate holder and as an additional insured, and shall 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 shall be given to the certificate holder; 3. Below the schedule of insurance in force, the certificate shall include a statement substantially as follows: The comprehensive general liability policy listed above includes coverage of designated premises and coverage for contractual liability in compliance with the provisions of Section _______ of the Metro Code of Laws, for a parade to be held on _______, 19___. 4. The certificate of insurance shall be signed by an authorized agent of the issuing company or companies. (Ord. 89-796 § 9, 1989)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 12.56.080 Permit—Notice of rejection.

12.56.080 - Permit—Notice of rejection. The chief of police shall act upon the application for a parade permit within three days after the filing thereof. If the chief of police or his/her designee disapproves the application, he shall provide written notice of his action, stating the reasons for his denial of the permit. The chief of police shall make the written statement available to the applicant within three days from the date the application was filed. It shall be the responsibility of the applicant to obtain from the chief of police or his/her designee, the written statement denying the application. The chief of police shall inform the applicant of the duty to obtain the written denial at the time the application is submitted. (Ord. 89-796 § 6, 1989)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 12.56.090 Method for computing of time.

12.56.090 - Method for computing of time. In computing any period of time set out in this chapter, the date of the action after which the designated period of time begins to run is not be to be included. The last day of the period so computed is to be included. All Saturdays, Sundays and holidays are not to be counted in the time period. (Ord. 89-796 § 7, 1989)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 12.56.100 Permittee's duty to comply with directions and conditions.

12.56.100 - Permittee's duty to comply with directions and conditions. A permittee under this chapter shall comply with all permit directions and conditions, and with all applicable laws and ordinances. The parade chairman or other person heading or leading such activity shall carry the parade permit upon his person during the conduct of the parade. (Ord. 89-796 § 8, 1989)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 12.56.110 Permit—Revocation conditions.

12.56.110 - Permit—Revocation conditions. The chief of police or his/her designee shall have the authority to revoke at any time prior to the parade a permit issued under this chapter upon determination that the applicant materially misrepresented facts or information in the application and/or failed to meet the standards for issuance as herein set forth. (Ord. 89-796 § 11, 1989)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 12.56.120 Interfering with or obstructing parades.

12.56.120 - Interfering with or obstructing parades. No person shall unreasonably hamper, obstruct or impede, or interfere with any parade or parade assembly, or with any person, vehicle or animal participating or used in a parade. (Ord. 89-796 § 10 (1), 1989)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 12.56.130 Driving through parades.

12.56.130 - Driving through parades. No driver of any vehicle shall drive between the vehicles or persons comprising a parade when such vehicles or persons are in motion and are conspicuously designated as a parade. (Ord. 89-796 § 10 (2), 1989)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 12.56.140 Parking on parade route.

12.56.140 - Parking on parade route. The chief of police or his/her designee 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 route of a parade. The director of the traffic and parking commission and/or the director of public works, upon request of the chief of police, shall post signs to such effect, and it is unlawful for any person to park or leave unattended any vehicle in violation thereof. No person shall be liable for parking on a street that has not been timely posted to prevent parked vehicles from interfering with the parade. (Ord. 89-796 § 10 (3), 1989)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 12.56.150 Injunctive relief.

12.56.150 - Injunctive relief. Nothing in this chapter providing for the regulation or license of parades, or penalties set forth for violation of this chapter, shall waive the right or otherwise preclude Metro, or any of its residents, from seeking or obtaining injunctive relief in a court of general jurisdiction for the purpose of prohibiting or regulating any proposed parade, or a parade for which a permit has been issued. (Ord. 89-796 § 13, 1989)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 12.56.160 Unlawful activities designated—Penalty.

12.56.160 - Unlawful activities designated—Penalty. A. It is unlawful for any person to stage, present or conduct, or attempt to stage, present or conduct a parade without first having obtained a permit therefor as provided in this chapter, or who shall otherwise violate any of the provisions of this chapter. B. It is unlawful for any person to participate in a parade on Metro streets for which a permit has not been granted. C. It is unlawful for any person to fail to comply with all directions and conditions of the parade permit. D. Any person violating the provisions of any section of this chapter shall, upon conviction, be fined not more than fifty dollars for each violation. (Ord. 89-796 § 12, 1989)

Metropolitan Code of Nashville and Davidson County § 12.56.170 Assistance of mayor's office of film and special events; fees.

12.56.170 - Assistance of mayor's office of film and special events; fees. The mayor's office of film and special events shall assist the chief of police in facilitating the processing of applications for and in the issuance of the parade permits provided for in this chapter. In connection therewith, with regard to parades being held for a recreational purpose, an administrative fee of one hundred dollars shall be paid by the applicant for the cost of facilitating the application for an event being held within the right-of-way permit high impact area (as defined in Metropolitan Code Section 13.20.030.D.1.), in the form of checks or money orders payable to the mayor's office of film and special events. For events being held outside of the right-of-way permit high impact area, the administrative fee for the cost of facilitating the application shall be fifty dollars, in the form of checks or money orders payable to the mayor's office of film and special events. (Res. RS2016-391 § 4, 2016; Amdt. 1 to Ord. BL2016-235 § 7, 2016; Ord. BL2016-235 § 7, 2016)
Source: Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Metropolitan Code and Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tn/metro_government_of_nashville_and_davidson_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CD_TIT12VETR_CH12.56PAFetched: 10/28/2026

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