Demonstration Permits

The public safety law of Illinois regarding public demonstrations explains that permits are needed to protect the “public health, welfare and safety” by ensuring vehicular traffic can be conducted with minimal disruption, and by preventing an unreasonable deprivation of the city’s police, fire and emergency services. xi Therefore, the law prohibits “any person, group or organization to conduct or participate in any march, assembly, meeting or gathering on roadways in more than one specific area of or location in, any municipality or the unincorporated area of a county, on any given day” without permission by a municipal or county parade or demonstration permit, or permission of the principal law enforcement officer of the area does not require permits. xii However, it is not usually necessary to obtain a permit unless the demonstration/rally will be blocking roadways or streets.

To attain a parade permit in the City of Chicago, one must fill out an application form, 15 business days prior to the event [the application is available here: City of Chicago

The main information the application requires is the location, the maximum number of persons participating, the names and addresses of the organizers of the assembly, its route, and when it will begin.