{"id":355708,"date":"2016-12-23T22:36:29","date_gmt":"2016-12-24T03:36:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/civilrights\/enforcing-your-civil-rights\/protest-laws-by-state.html"},"modified":"2023-10-12T12:07:12","modified_gmt":"2023-10-12T17:07:12","slug":"protest-laws-by-state","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/civilrights\/enforcing-your-civil-rights\/protest-laws-by-state.html","title":{"rendered":"Protest Laws by State"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Protest Laws by State<\/h1>\n
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\n By FindLaw Staff<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Kellie Pantekoek, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

You can assemble and peacefully protest<\/a> against the United States government. Under the First Amendment<\/a> to the U.S. Constitution, you can assemble and engage in peaceful protests, such as a sit-in, in a public space or public forum. Public spaces include sidewalks, streets, public squares, and parks.<\/p>\r\n

The federal government, or Congress, can place reasonable restrictions on your speech activity and peaceful assembly, known as \u201ctime, place, and manner<\/a>" restrictions.<\/p>\r\n

For example, a large group requires a demonstration permit before assembling to march down a major public street to protest a human rights violation.<\/p>\r\n

As another example, protestors require a permit when gathering to march in Washington, D.C., to boycott a contentious presidential inauguration.<\/p>\r\n

These restrictions are \u201creasonable" because the Supreme Court\u2014the highest federal court\u2014has found they aren’t based on the content of the speech.<\/p>\r\n

Private property owners can set their own rules for speech on their property. You can be arrested by law enforcement officers for trespassing if you attempt protest activities on private property.<\/p>\r\n

Each state has protest laws designed to spell out the demonstration permit process. There are also criminal penalties for violations of peaceful protest laws. Individual municipalities and cities may have ordinances related to marches, demonstrations, or protests. Speak with a local attorney or contact the local government where you plan to protest to learn more about your protest rights.<\/p>\r\n

Protest Laws by State Overview<\/h2>\r\n

Below, you will find information on protest laws by state, including examples of demonstration permit procedures for key cities. Not all cities have the same requirements, even if located in the same state. Contact city government officials in the location you wish to protest to learn more.<\/p>\r\n

Follow the lawful order of police officers while exercising your right to free speech. Avoid violating any court orders. You could face criminal misdemeanor or felony charges if you engage in civil disobedience or ignore a dispersal order.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

State<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Public Property Protest\/Demonstration Permit Information (By Major City)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Unlawful Assembly State Code<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Failure to Disperse State Code<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Alabama<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Birmingham<\/b><\/i><\/p>\r\n

Traffic Engineering Department<\/a><\/p>\r\n

Alaska<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Anchorage<\/b><\/i><\/p>\r\n

Parks and Recreation Department<\/a><\/p>\r\n

Arizona<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Phoenix<\/b><\/i><\/p>\r\n

City Manager’s Office\/Parks and Recreation Department<\/a><\/p>\r\n

Arkansas<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Little Rock<\/b><\/i><\/p>\r\n

City Manager’s Office<\/a><\/p>\r\n

California<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Los Angeles<\/b><\/i><\/p>\r\n

Special Events Permit Unit<\/a> (SEPU) within the Emergency Operations Division of the Los Angeles Police Department<\/p>\r\n

Colorado<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Denver<\/b><\/i><\/p>\r\n

Denver Parks and Recreation<\/a> (for public assemblies of 50 or more people at Denver public parks and recreation facilities)<\/p>\r\n

Connecticut<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Bridgeport<\/b><\/i><\/p>\r\n

Permits Office<\/a><\/p>\r\n

Delaware<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Wilmington<\/b><\/i><\/p>\r\n

Department of Parks and Recreation<\/a><\/p>\r\n

District of Columbia<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Mayor’s Special Events Task Group<\/a><\/p>\r\n

Florida<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Jacksonville<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n

Office of Special Events<\/a><\/p>\r\n

Georgia<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Atlanta<\/b><\/i><\/p>\r\n

Office of Special Events<\/a><\/p>\r\n

Hawaii<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Honolulu<\/b><\/i><\/p>\r\n

Department of Transportation Services<\/a><\/p>\r\n

Idaho<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Boise<\/b><\/i><\/p>\r\n

City of Boise, Special Events<\/a><\/p>\r\n

Illinois<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Chicago<\/b><\/i><\/p>\r\n

City of Chicago office<\/a><\/p>\r\n

Indiana<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Indianapolis<\/b><\/i><\/p>\r\n

Business and Neighborhood Services<\/a> & Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department<\/a><\/p>\r\n

Iowa<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Des Moines<\/b><\/i><\/p>\r\n

City Manager<\/a><\/p>\r\n

Kansas<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Wichita<\/b><\/i><\/p>\r\n

Division of Arts & Cultural Services<\/a><\/p>\r\n

Kentucky<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Louisville<\/b><\/i><\/p>\r\n

Louisville Metro Emergency Services<\/a><\/p>\r\n

Louisiana<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

New Orleans<\/b><\/i><\/p>\r\n

City of New Orleans’ One Stop Shop<\/a><\/p>\r\n

Maine<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Portland<\/b><\/i><\/p>\r\n

Public Assembly Facilities Division<\/a><\/p>\r\n

Maryland<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Baltimore<\/b><\/i><\/p>\r\n

Department of Recreation and Parks Office<\/a><\/p>\r\n

Massachusetts<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Boston<\/b><\/i><\/p>\r\n

City of Boston<\/a><\/p>\r\n

Michigan<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Detroit<\/b><\/i><\/p>\r\n

City Clerk’s Office<\/a><\/p>\r\n

Minnesota<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Minneapolis<\/b><\/i><\/p>\r\n

Department of Public Works<\/a><\/p>\r\n

Mississippi<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Jackson<\/b><\/i><\/p>\r\n

Missouri<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Kansas City<\/b><\/i><\/p>\r\n

Public Works<\/a><\/p>\r\n

Montana<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Billings<\/b><\/i><\/p>\r\n

Public Works<\/a><\/p>\r\n

Nebraska<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Omaha<\/b><\/i><\/p>\r\n

Public Works<\/a><\/p>\r\n

    \r\n
  • See Individual City Ordinances for More Information<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>

Nevada<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Las Vegas<\/b><\/i><\/p>\r\n

Las Vegas City Hall<\/a><\/p>\r\n

New Hampshire<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Manchester<\/b><\/i><\/p>\r\n

City of Manchester<\/a><\/p>\r\n

New Jersey<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Newark<\/b><\/i><\/p>\r\n

Newark Police Department<\/a><\/p>\r\n

New Mexico<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Albuquerque<\/b><\/i><\/p>\r\n

New York<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

New York City<\/b><\/i><\/p>\r\n

North Carolina<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Charlotte<\/b><\/i><\/p>\r\n

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department<\/a>, City of Charlotte Department of Transportation (CDOT)<\/a><\/p>\r\n

North Dakota<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Fargo<\/b><\/i><\/p>\r\n

City of Fargo Police Department<\/a><\/p>\r\n

Ohio<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Columbus<\/b><\/i><\/p>\r\n

Oklahoma<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Oklahoma City<\/b><\/i><\/p>\r\n

Office of Special Events<\/a><\/p>\r\n

Oregon<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Portland<\/b><\/i><\/p>\r\n

Portland Bureau of Transportation<\/a><\/p>\r\n

Pennsylvania<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Philadelphia<\/b><\/i><\/p>\r\n

Office of Special Events<\/a><\/p>\r\n

Rhode Island<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Providence<\/b><\/i><\/p>\r\n

City of Providence Special Event Planning<\/a><\/p>\r\n

South Carolina<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Columbia<\/b><\/i><\/p>\r\n

Columbia Police Department<\/a><\/p>\r\n

South Dakota<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Sioux Falls<\/b><\/i><\/p>\r\n

Special Event Planning<\/a><\/p>\r\n

Tennessee<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Memphis<\/b><\/i><\/p>\r\n

Special Events Office<\/a><\/p>\r\n

Texas<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Houston<\/b><\/i><\/p>\r\n

Mayor’s Office of Special Events<\/a><\/p>\r\n

Utah<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Salt Lake City<\/b><\/i><\/p>\r\n

Vermont<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Burlington<\/b><\/i><\/p>\r\n

Burlington Police Department<\/a><\/p>\r\n

Virginia<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

City of Virginia Beach<\/b><\/i><\/p>\r\n

Special Events and Film Production Office<\/a><\/p>\r\n

Washington<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Seattle<\/b><\/i><\/p>\r\n

Special Events Office<\/a><\/p>\r\n

West Virginia<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

City of Charleston<\/b><\/i><\/p>\r\n

Wisconsin<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Milwaukee<\/b><\/i><\/p>\r\n

Special Events Permit Office<\/a><\/p>\r\n

Wyoming<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n

Cheyenne<\/b><\/i><\/p>\r\n

City Clerk’s Office<\/a><\/p>\r\n