(A) (1) It shall be unlawful to picket, parade or march unless a permit to perform the actions has been secured. To secure a permit, those desiring same shall make application, duly signed by the individual organizer or by an officer of the organization, and submit it to the City Clerk between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. of each work day, for subsequent approval by the City Administrator.
(2) Parade, festival and special events permits are required for any organized event involving the use of, or having an impact on public property, including parks, sidewalks, or public roadways. The city’s (COB) goal is to assist event organizers in planning safe and successful events that create minimal impacts on the communications surrounding the events.
(a) There is a $50 application fee for festivals, special events, and parade permits for any non-city sponsored event (including schools, churches, governments and 501c status).
(b) Applications should be submitted a minimum of 30 days prior to the event.
(c) Proof of insurance and all payments must be submitted 14 days prior to the event.
(d) A South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) parade application found online at www.scdot.org must be submitted to SCDOT if streets are to be blocked and a copy of the permit must be submitted with application.
(e) Outdoor cooking must meet South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental.
(f) Control (SCDHEC) standards, found online at www.scdhec.gov.
(g) A blanket license of $100 is required for up to 15 vendors, without city business licenses additional vendors will be an additional $25 each.
(h) Applicants are responsible for cleaning and restoring the streets, sidewalks, parks, or property used immediately following each event.
(i) Event coordinator must also provide written permission from Marlboro County Administration to use property located on or around the Court House Square or any other property.
(j) Public restrooms are not provided by the COB.
(k) No illegal activities permitted that are contrary or forbidden by local or state law, especially criminal law (i.e., gambling, fighting, public intoxication, and disorderly conduct).
(3) A permit may be issued within 30 days, excluding the date the application is submitted. The application shall state the time, duration, purpose, the area in which the festival, special event, picketing, parading or marching will occur and the individual, group of individuals or organization directing and responsible for the special event.
(B) When picketing or engaging in “demonstrations,” no person shall:
(1) Use on the streets or public places any verbal abuse, including curses, insults, threats or acts of violence, directed against any person;
(2) March, parade, protest or picket in any manner other than as permitted by this section, except with the express written consent and approval of the City Administrator;
(3) Engage in riotous and loud conduct which invades the privacy of homes or businesses;
(4) Damage or destroy or injure the person or property of others;
(5) Block, in any manner, the streets and means of ingress and egress to places of business;
(6) Interfere with, in any manner, or obstruct any official in the performance of his duties;
(7) Interfere with, in any manner, the attendance, during school hours, of children in the public schools, by inciting or urging them to participate in demonstrations or for any other unlawful purpose or reason, or permitting them to be or remain in churches or other places used in the demonstrations;
(8) Picket other than in accordance with the following principles:
(a) In small numbers;
(b) In a manner so as not to interfere with pedestrians or vehicular traffic;
(c) In a manner so as not to block entrances or exits to or from picketed establishments;
(d) No more than four pickets posted at any one time at any one business establishment;
(e) No more than two business establishments picketed in the same block at the same time;
(f) No picket trespassing upon the property of the business establishment being picketed;
(g) Pickets patrolling on the sidewalk at a distance of not less than eight feet from every other picket; or
(h) No person or persons, whether in sympathy with the pickets or not, shall assemble, loiter, congregate or engage in any kind of picketing of the establishment being picketed except those picketing in their official capacity.
(9) “Demonstrate,” other than in accordance with the following principles:
(a) Walking not more than two abreast upon the public sidewalks or in groups of not more than 100 persons;
(b) Observing all traffic-control devices;
(c) Walking close to the building line or curb so as not to interfere with or obstruct other pedestrian traffic on the sidewalk; or
(d) Assembling peacefully and speaking peacefully for a period of time not exceeding 30 minutes and when traffic to and from places of business or employment is not at its peak, and in circumstances as will not unduly disrupt the public peace, and conducted in a manner as not to deprive the public of adequate police and fire protection.
(S.C. Code § 14-25-90) ('88 Code, § 14.411) (Am. Ord. 08-06-01, passed 6-17-08; Am. Ord. 21-07-01, passed 7-20-21) Penalty, see § 130.99