Parade and Assembly Permits

In order to conduct a parade or assembly in the City of Beverly Hills, a permit may be required.

When a Permit is Required. In general, assemblies of 25 or more people on a public street, sidewalk, or city path and assemblies of 75 or more within any other public area will require a permit. For further details, consult the definitions of parade and assembly in Section 4-3-202 of the City’s Municipal Code.

Permits Not Required For Certain Assemblies. Assemblies of less than 500 people are permitted in the following areas without a permit: (1) La Cienega Park and (2) the Crescent Drive side of the City Hall.

Additionally, a permit is not required for spontaneous assemblies prompted by recent news or events that come into public knowledge within 3 days of the assembly. However, the organizers must provide at least 24 hours of notice to the City, as required in Section 4-3-200 of the City’s Municipal Code.

Definitions:

ASSEMBLY: Any meeting, demonstration, picket line, rally, gathering, or group of persons, animals, or vehicles, or a combination thereof, having a common purpose, design, or goal, either (1) upon any public street, sidewalk, alley, or city park path which numbers twenty-five (25) or more and which assembly will or tends to substantially inhibit the usual flow of pedestrian or vehicular traffic, other than a "parade," as defined in this Section, or (2) upon any park or other public place which numbers seventy-five (75) or more and which occupies any public area, other than a "parade," as defined in this Section.

PARADE: Any march, demonstration, procession, motorcade, or promenade consisting of persons, animals, or vehicles, or a combination thereof, having a common purpose, design, destination, or goal; upon any public place, which parade, march, demonstration, procession, motorcade, or promenade does not comply with normal and usual traffic regulations or control.

SIGNIFICANT NOISE IMPACTS: The generation of noise that is distinctly audible from within the nearest residence or dwelling.

Prohibited Parades and Assemblies.

Protests in Residential Areas. Beginning on Wednesday, November 4, 2020, assemblies, parades, and other gatherings of any size that cause significant noise impacts may not take place on a roadway or sidewalk abutting a private residence that is not located in a commercial zone between the hours of 7:00 P.M. (or one half-hour after sunset, whichever is earlier) and 8:00 A.M. Significant noise impacts are defined as the generation of noise that is distinctly audible from within the nearest residence.

Targeted assemblies, parades, and other gatherings of any size may not be held outside of a resident’s home. A targeted assembly is a gathering which focuses on a single residence in the City and which proceeds solely in front of that residence for a period of more than 15 minutes.

Prohibiting demonstrators at unpermitted assemblies from assembling on the adjacent sidewalk and requiring them to remain at least seven feet from the curb of La Cienega Boulevard and other major arterial streets.

If an unpermitted parade or assembly takes place in La Cienega park for more than six weeks within a twelve-week period; then unpermitted parades and assemblies will be prohibited in La Cienega Park for a period of six weeks. Refer to full Ordinance for details (Section 4-3-200).

Requesting a Parade or Assembly Permit.

To request a parade or assembly permit, complete the application in the link below and submit your completed application via email to: police-permits@beverlyhills.org.

Application for Parade / Demonstration / Assembly Permit (11-3-20)

View Updated Parade and Assembly Ordinance

Costs.

Prior to engaging in a parade or assembly, a permittee under the provisions of this Article shall deposit with the City an amount necessary to reimburse the City for all traffic control costs incurred in connection with diverting traffic due to any occupancy of the roadway portion of a City street. Refer to Section 4-3-211 of the City’s Municipal Code.

Prohibited Items. Items that pose significant risks to public health and safety at any assembly, parade, protest, demonstration, picketing event or rally of any size are prohibited. Prohibited items include:

Updated 11.25.20: It shall be unlawful for any person to carry or possess any length of plastic or metal pipe, rod or other object greater than one foot (1') in length and/or greater than one-quarter inch (1/4") in its thickest dimension, including rods attached to signs, posters, plaques, notices;
Any length of lumber, wood, or wood lath greater than one foot (T) in length, unless such object is of wood, is blunted at its ends, and is one-fourth inch (1/4") or less in thickness and two inches (2") or less in width, or if not generally rectangular in shape, such object shall not exceed three-fourths inch (3/4") in its thickest dimension;
Any length of plastic or metal pipe, rod or other object greater than one foot (1') in length or greater than one-quarter inch (1/4") in its thickest dimension, including rods attached to signs, posters, plaques, notices;
Any sign, poster, plaque, or notice, whether or not mounted on a length of wood as specified in subsection A of this Section, unless such sign, poster, plaque, or notice is constructed solely of a cloth, paper, or cardboard material no greater than one-quarter inch (1/4") in thickness;
Any projectile launcher or other device which is commonly used for the purpose of launching, hurling, or throwing any object, liquid, material or other substance;
Weapons such as firearms, knives, swords, sabers or other bladed devices, axes, hammers, hatchets, ice picks, razor blades, nun chucks or martial arts weapons of any kind, box cutters, pellet or BB guns, conducted electrical weapons (CEWs), including, but not limited to, tasers or stun guns, metal/composite/wooden knuckles, any chain greater than twenty inches (20") in length or greater than one-fourth inch (1/4") in diameter, or toy or replica firearms unless such toy or replica firearm is fluorescent colored or transparent;
Any balloons, bottles or any other container containing any flammable, biohazard, or other noxious matter which is injurious, or nauseous, sickening or irritating to any of the senses;
Aerosol spray, tear gas, mace, pepper spray or bear repellant;
Glass bottles, whether empty or filled;
Shields made of metal, wood, hard plastic, glass or any combination thereof;
Bricks, rocks, pieces of asphalt, concrete, pellets or ball bearings;
Baseball or softball bats, regardless of composition or size; provided, however, that such items are permissible when configured of cloth, cardboard, soft plastic, foam or paper for expressive purposes.
gas mask or similar device designed to filter all air breathed and that would protect the respiratory tract and face against irritating, noxious or poisonous gases. This Section shall not apply to any cloth or polymer face covering worn to protect the wearer and/or nearby persons from the transmission of infectious disease;
Open flame torches, lanterns, fireworks, or other devices that utilize combustible materials such as gasoline, kerosene, propane, gunpowder, pyrotechnic stars, or other fuel sources;
Device(s) that emits a single point of light amplified by the stimulated emission of radiation that is visible to the human eye, including laser pointers and laser scopes;
Device(s) which contains one or more metal, wood, hard plastic, or glass spikes, barbs, or other sharp protrusions, including homemade spike strips;
Electrical generator, whether wired or portable, unless the specific generator is installed, carried, possessed, and/or operated pursuant to a permit issued pursuant to this Article;
Skateboards.

Nothing in this Section shall prohibit a disabled person from carrying a cane, walker, or similar device necessary for providing mobility so that the person may participate in a demonstration, rally, picket line, parade or assembly.

See Section 4-3-209 of the City’s Municipal Code for a complete listing of the prohibited items.