Originally posted by sexygreencivic
its public property 
we looked into it, and one of the officers told us we needed a permit to congregate within the city limits. Thats BS because not to long ago, they had a religous play at one end of the parking lot, and I asked them if they had a permit, and they said The city manager told them they didn't need one.
Nope, sorry to say that a parking lot is not public property unless it is owned by your local government... the land in front of a store is included in its lease agreement with any strip mall it may be a part of, or it will be outright owned by the establishment.
It is considered public property
for the purposes of law enforcement, meaning that police officers can give tickets for speeding, parking illegally, etc.
The only way a parking lot is exempt from law enforcement is if you are charged to park there. For example, police officers cannot give out tickets in school (high school or college) parking lots if the students pay for a parking pass, UNLESS the officers are deputized.
However, if you purchase from the establishment, you can be in their parking lot. Period. Get reciepts, show them to the officers.