Form Center

Attached for your use is the current permit application for public assemblies. This form contains many important items of information for which the applicant will be responsible. Hence, it is important that the applicant review all information and completely fill out all sections of the form. If a question is not applicable, fill in the blank with “NA” (not applicable).

Public Assembly Permits are required for Special Events that utilize public spaces, such as streets, greenways, public park, and plazas. Events contained to private property do not require a Public Assembly Permit. The use of City greenways, parks, and plazas requires coordination with the Parks and Recreation Department. Use of a public right-of-way (e.g. street, sidewalk) requires coordination with the Public Works Department.

Please see the City of Roanoke Special Event Policy and Special Event Planning Guide documents for important information about application submittal time frames and the permitting process.

The following items should help you through the process:

• If your event involves the use of a City of Roanoke park, plaza or greenway, please contact the Parks & Recreation Department (215 Church Avenue, SW – Room 303) at (540) 853-2236 or [email protected] to confirm availability and reserve the location prior to submitting the assembly permit application.
• You must contact the City of Roanoke’s Police Department (Patrol Administration Office) at (540) 853-1634 at the time your application is submitted to review all issues relating to the general public health, safety and welfare and to determine if police resources will be required.
• Your event may require a certificate of insurance. Please contact our Risk Management Office (215 Church Avenue, SW – Room 209) at (540) 853-2450 to discuss the details of your event. The need for liability insurance coverage is determined by the type of event and any liability issues that it may pose. If it is determined by the Office of Risk Management that you need liability insurance for your event and you do not currently have the coverage, you may search the Internet for information on purchasing event insurance. Prior to purchasing this insurance, make sure that the company is licensed to do business in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
• If more than 1,000 persons are anticipated to congregate at any one time, or if the event is non-stationary (e.g. parade, walk, distance run), an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) is required. Please attach one copy of the EAP to your application. You can fill out the EAP form online at www.roanokeva.gov/639/Emergency-Management or you can complete the EAP template included in the Special Event Planning Guide glossary. You can call Emergency Management at (540) 853-2426 if you need assistance.
• If your event involves liquid wastes, they must be properly managed. Examples of liquid wastes include cooking oil/grease, wash and sanitizing water, beverage service spills, and more. See page 3 of the permit application for more information.
• If there is a valid need for event support vehicles to park within the footprint of a public assembly, you must contact PARK Roanoke at (540) 343-0585 or [email protected] to obtain Temporary Parking Permits. Temporary Parking Permits are issued for a specific vehicle at a specific location; therefore, when contacting PARK Roanoke, be prepared to provide detailed information for each vehicle and parking location. It should be noted that Temporary Parking Permits will not be issued solely for the parking convenience of volunteers or event participants.
• Please be sure to sign and date the assembly permit application. It will be returned to you if not signed and dated.
• Upon approval, a copy will be returned to the applicant and must be readily available at the event. Thank you for your interest in conducting a public assembly in the City of Roanoke. If there are any questions, please contact (540) 853-5834.

1. The degree of amplification of sound to be emitted from sound trucks or bullhorns shall be fixed and not variable. No amplified sound may be emitted from sound trucks or bullhorns within one hundred fifty (150) feet of hospital buildings in which medical treatment or care are provided.
2. No Public Assembly accompanied by noise which disturbs, or tends to disturb, the peace or good order of a primary or secondary public school, or class being held therein, may be conducted within one hundred fifty (150) feet of any primary or secondary public school building while the school is in session, one-half hour before the school is in session, and one-half hour after the school session has been concluded.
3. Applicant shall notify businesses that have an approved Outdoor Dining Permit and which will be affected by this Public Assembly at least 14 calendar days in advance of the first day of the Public Assembly.
4. No Public Assembly may be in front of or directed at, a single residence.
5. The rate of speed of the Public Assembly shall be fixed, and not variable, except when reasonably required for the safe and orderly conduct of the Public Assembly.
6. No Public Assembly may unduly disrupt pedestrian or vehicular passage.
7. No Public Assembly may avoid disrupting pedestrian or vehicular passage by encroaching upon private property.
8. No Public Assembly may touch, or unduly disrupt, pedestrians or motor vehicles ingressing to, or egressing from, any building or private property.
9. No person over the age of 16 years may wear a mask, hood or another device so as to conceal the identity of the wearer in violation of §18.2-422 of the Code of Virginia (1950), as amended.
10. All materials used in the construction of floats used in any Public Assembly shall be fire-retardant materials and shall be subject to such requirements covering fire safety as may be determined by the Roanoke Chief of Fire-EMS. Such requirements shall be conveyed, in writing, to the Applicant within five (5) business days of the issuance of the Application for Permit.
11. The Applicant shall retain at least one copy of the Permit at the location of the Public Assembly or at the head of the Public Assembly if the Public Assembly is a parade or march.
12. The Applicant shall be responsible for notifying as soon as possible all businesses and residences which adjoin any right-of-way which will be barricaded as a result of the Public Assembly.
13. No Public Assembly may be conducted in such a way that it violates any ordinance of the city, any law of the Commonwealth of Virginia, or any law of the United States.
14. No person conducting or participating in a Public Assembly may deviate from, or alter, any of the terms, conditions or contents of an Application for Permit or a Permit.
15. No person conducting or participating in a Public Assembly may deface, alter, mark or paint any public property, street or sidewalk.
16. Failure, or refusal, by the Applicant or any participant in a Public Assembly to abide by the conditions of a permit, or the terms of a permit, shall be grounds for revocation of the permit pursuant to Section 30-108.2 of the Code of the City of Roanoke (1979), as amended.
17. An approved Public Assembly permit is conditioned upon the issuance of all other required permits, if applicable (e.g. Temporary Food Establishment Permit, ABC Permit, Open Burning Permit, Building Permit, Wastewater Discharge Permit).