Legal Documents of Maryville

Code of Maryville

Table of Contents » Title 16 Streets and Sidewalks, etc. » Chapter 1 Miscellaneous » § 16-109 Parades regulated.
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Title 16
16-1
Title 16, Chapter 1
16-101
§ 16-101
Maryville
Title 16 : Streets and Sidewalks, etc.
Chapter 1 : Miscellaneous

16-109 : Parades regulated.

  1. Enforcement of other laws. Nothing contained in this section shall prohibit the authority of any officer to arrest or cite a person engaged in any act or activity granted under this section if the conduct of such person otherwise violates the laws of the state or ordinances of the city, or unreasonably obstructs the public streets and sidewalks of the city, or if such person engages in acts that cause, or would tend to cause, a breach of the peace as determined by the city and/or police department.
  2. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning:


    1. "Block party." An outdoor gathering on a public street or portion of a public street which involves the closure or partial closure of a street.
    2. "Celebratory gathering." A gathering for the purpose of celebrating a person, place, holiday, even, and/or entity.
    3. "Concert." An outdoor event centered around amplified music or speech.
    4. "Event." A block party, celebratory gathering, concert, parade, public assembly, race or similar function as determined by the city manager, or his/her designee.
    5. "Parade." The march, procession, or motorcade consisting of persons, animals, or vehicles, or a combination thereof, upon the streets within the city which interferes with the normal flow or regulation of traffic upon the streets or sidewalks.
    6. "Permit." Permission to operate an event under this chapter which is issued by the City of Maryville as required by this chapter.
    7. "Public assembly." Any meeting, demonstration, picket line, rally, or gathering of people for a common purpose, which interferes with the normal flow or regulation of pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
    8. "Race." Any organized event where participants are physically competing.
    9. "Sidewalk." Any public area or way set aside or open to the general public for purposes of pedestrian traffic.
    10. "Street." 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, median or common area, or median strip thereof, set aside for parking or for purposes of vehicular traffic.
  3. Permit required. Except as exempted herein, no person or persons shall engage in or conduct any block party, celebratory gathering, concert, parade, race, public assembly, or any other event involving the use or disruption of the public right-of-way or public property, streets or sidewalks within the corporate limits of the City of Maryville, unless a permit is issued by the city manager, or his/her designee.
  4. Exceptions. This section shall not apply to the following:


    1. Funeral processions;
    2. A governmental agency acting within the scope and authority of its functions;
    3. Spontaneous events occasioned by news or affairs coming into public knowledge within three (3) days of such event, provided that the organizer thereof gives written notice to the city manager, or his/her designee, reasonable notice of such event;
    4. Businesses that have been approved for a grand opening or similar business oriented event governed under zoning or other provisions of this code;
    5. Any event involving less than ten (10) persons gathered together for a common purpose;
    6. A city sponsored event; and
    7. Students going to and from classes or participating in educational activities; providing such conduct is under the direction and supervision of proper school activities.
  5. Application for permit.


    1. A person seeking a permit for an event as defined under this section shall file an initial application with the city manager, or his or her designee, using the initial special event application form provided by the city manager's office.
    2. For most events, the initial application for a permit shall be filed with the city manager at least seven (7) calendar days and not more than three hundred sixty-five (365) calendar days before the event is proposed to commence. The city manager may waive the seven (7) day filing period and accept an application filed within a shorter period if, after due consideration of the date, time, place and nature of the event the anticipated number of participants, and the city services required in connection with the event, the city manager determines that the waiver will not present a hazard to public safety and welfare. Applications for block parties, celebratory gatherings, races, concerts or other recreational type events must be filed at least ninety (90) days in advance of the event, which time period can also be waived in the discretion of the city manager. An applicant can contact the city manager's office to determine which deadline applies based on the type of event.
    3. Based on the type of event, either the chief of police or the city manager's office will be assigned to the event by the city manager. An additional application seeking additional and more specific information will be required after assignment to one (1) of these coordinators. Fees may be charged for recreational or entertainment oriented, or like, events to pay for extra services required of city personnel. Refundable deposits and an application may be required for use of city owned or controlled facilities, including, but not limited to, the theater in the park for certain events.
  6. Standards for issuance. The city manager, or his/her designee, may issue a permit when, from consideration of the application and from such other information as may otherwise be obtained, he or she finds that:


    1. The conduct of the event will not require the diversion of so great a number of city employees to properly police the line of movement, and the areas contiguous thereto, as to prevent normal public safety of the city and its citizens;
    2. If applicable, the event is scheduled to move from its point of origin to its point of termination expeditiously and without unreasonable delays en route;
    3. There are sufficient parking places near the beginning/ending of the event to accommodate the number of vehicles reasonably expected;
    4. No event application for the same time and location has already been granted, or has been received and will be granted;
    5. No event permit application for the same time but different location has already been granted, or has been received and will be granted that by combination thereof will disrupt city services or unreasonably inhibit traffic circulation; and
    6. The reasonable enjoyment of surrounding properties, businesses, and residences will not be disturbed in such a way as to cause an undue nuisance.
  7. Nondiscrimination. The city manager shall uniformly consider each application based upon its merits, and shall not discriminate in granting or denying permits under this chapter based upon political, religious, ethnic, race, disability, or gender-related factors.
  8. Grant or denial.


    1. The city manager, or his or her designee, shall have a reasonable time to grant or deny the permit under this section. The length of time which is reasonable shall be determined by the type of use, the information supplied, the time of filing of the application, the extent of advance preparation a planning demonstrated and reasonably required, and the manner in which the application demonstrates whether or not the proposed use meets the standards and purposes of this section. In no event shall an application for a permit be denied less than four (4) days prior to the planned event.
    2. The city manager, or his/her designee, shall grant or deny the permit in writing, and the grant or denial shall be mailed, emailed, or delivered to the applicant.
    3. If the application for permit shall be denied, the denial shall set forth the reasons for such denial.
    4. If the application for permit is approved, the approval shall specify the date, time, and place for which the permit is approved, the route or staging area (if for a parade), the number of city personnel required, and any other requirements deemed necessary by the city manager, or his/her designee.
  9. Revocation of permit. The city manager, and/or his or her designee, may revoke the permit and terminate all activities related to the event in the interest of public health and safety, or if a public nuisance is generated by the event as determined by the city manager and/or public safety personnel.
  10. No fund-raising events. No fund-raising activities shall occur on city owned or controlled property, streets, sidewalks or rights-of-way as part of any permitted event except as part of city sponsored events. This prohibition expressly prohibits money exchanging hands on city owned or controlled property during, or as a part of, a permitted event. (1999 Code, § 16-110)
Date Last Updated: 12/22/2025
Codification Date: 06/01/2024

Officials at Date of Last Codification:

Mayor - Andy White
Vice-Mayor - Fred Metz
Council Member - Sarah Herron
Council Member - Tommy Hunt
Council Member - Drew Miles
City Manager - Greg McClain
Assistant City Manager - Kevin Stoltenberg
City Recorder/Financial Services Director - Sherri Phillips
City Attorney - Melanie Davis 

Date Last Updated: 12/22/2025
Codification Date: 06/01/2024

Officials at Date of Last Codification:

Mayor - Andy White
Vice-Mayor - Fred Metz
Council Member - Sarah Herron
Council Member - Tommy Hunt
Council Member - Drew Miles
City Manager - Greg McClain
Assistant City Manager - Kevin Stoltenberg
City Recorder/Financial Services Director - Sherri Phillips
City Attorney - Melanie Davis