Temporary Concession permits are issued at stand-alone park locations where short-term or single day concession needs arise that benefit an activity or the public at the requested park location. • Concession approvals (permits) are required and issued to applicants for commercial activity requests (vending, merchandise sales, etc) in the park system. • Concession permits are NOT issued for vendors to vend outside or near permitted special events where organizers typically coordinate vendors inside their permitted grounds and spaces.

Do I Need a Permit?

No permit is required for gatherings that are not advertised to the public and do NOT include commercial activity, food sales or alcohol. 

Allowed
  • Potluck-style food
  • Use of general park areas that are shared with the public
  • Non-alcoholic beverages
  • Up to two 10x10 shade cannopies
Not Allowed
  • Food sales
  • Public food service
  • Alcohol or the sale of alcoholic beverages
  • Rental tents
  • Amplified music
  • Bounce houses
  • Commercial activities (vendors, sales, etc.)

 

 

When is a Permit Required?

A permit is required for all other types of gathering or park uses.  A list of common topic items is provided below for additional guidance for items that require a permit.

Activation in a Park

Commercial or brand activation requires a permit as part of a park site rental, or with written permission of an event organizer.

Permits are considered for activations that will ENHANCE a park or recreational purpose. General commercial advertising, marketing, product launches or similar are NOT general public recreational purposes and are prohibited.  It is a $100-$500 fine, $250 minimum fine during a special event, Class C Misdemeanor.

  • Activations are NOT allowed near or inside pools, on or near the hike/bike trail, boardwalk, or on Pfluger Bridge.
  • With a permit, they must occur in designated areas such as picnic rental sites, or event buildings.
Alcohol

Consumption may be permitted with an approved site rental.  Alcohol sales require additional resources and event requirements.

Amplified Sound

May be considered and permitted with an approved site rental.

Concessions

Single day, 6 month and performing artists require a permit. See the concessions section of this page.

Cookouts

Cookouts may be permitted at designated rental sites.  Public cookouts may require items such as health permits, insurance and cook out event $100 damage deposit in addition to other site rental or other permit fees.

Public cookouts without alcohol require a special request form.

Crawfish Boil

Crawfish boils may ONLY occur at designated picnic rental sites and require an additional $100 damage deposit above any other site rental or other permit fees. All crawfish boil regulations must also be followed.

Public cookouts without alcohol require a special request form.

Events

For non-public picnic or event facility rentals see the picnic day use or event facility section.  You will be provided information on sound, bounce house and alcohol allowances during booking.  Examples include birthday parties, family reunios or weddings.

Fitness Groups/ Training Groups

Fitness training in the park, whether free to the public or not, requires a permit. 

Filming

All public filming should file a permit request.

Food Sales

Food sales may be allowed as part of a permitted event or concession permit.  Stand alone food sales or concessions in a park are NOT allowed.  This includes food product sampling.

Fundraiser

A fundraiser is considered a public event. 

Marketing or Brand Activations


Commercial or brand activation requires a permit as part of a park site rental, or with written permission of an event organizer.

Permits are considered for activations that will ENHANCE a park or recreational purpose. General commercial advertising, marketing, product launches or similar are NOT general public recreational purposes and are prohibited.  It is a $100-$500 fine, $250 minimum fine during a special event, Class C Misdemeanor.

  • Activations are NOT allowed near or inside pools, on or near the hike/bike trail, boardwalk, or on the Pfluger Bridge.
  • With a permit, they must occur in designated areas such as picnic rental sites, or event buildings.
Metal Detecting

Permitted in the specific case where the OWNER of an object is attempting to recover a lost item of value.  General interest metal detecting is NOT permitted.

Moonwalks/ Bounce Houses

NOT allowed for day to day uses rentals, picnic sites or similar. Water attractions are prohibited.  Permitted ONLY at large festivals with an approved site rental where conditions/space can accommodate the device, and required insurance is provided.

Music

May be considered and permitted with an approved site rental.

Performing Artists

Clowns, balloon artists, non-amplified busking or similar require single day permits.  See the concessions section of this page.  Permits are only issued for activities that include non-hazardous materials.

Petting Zoo

Prohibited in all parks.

Picnic Reservation

See the "picnic site section". In order to reserve, and potentially have alcohol and amplified sound at a picnic use, you must have a picnic site or shelter reservation.

Photo Permits

Photo session permits are required for posed, portrait or commercial photography at Auditorium Shores, Mt. Bonnell, Zilker Botanical Gardens and Zilker Metropolitan Park. 

Product Sampling

Food, merchandise or product sampling may only occur in a park at an approved festival/event, rental or concession permit.  Ad hoc or sampling/marketing is not allowed.  Product sampling may NOT occur with fitness trainer permits.

Sampling will NOT be considered on the hike/bike trail, Pfluger Bridge or at/near most popular parks and pools.

Runs or Walks

With a permit, events may use a park as a start/stop site for a run that also has permit for use of the sidewalks/streets for the walking part of the activity.  Regardless of size - fun walks, runs may NOT be conducted on park land or any part of the hike/bike trail system.

 

 

Find your Facility (Picnic Areas)

Picnic site rentals start at $60/site/day bookable 10 am - 10 pm at most sites.  Bookings requests must be submitted online up to 180 days in advance and no less than 16 days prior to the use date. There are 35 picnic sites across 23 parks.

Full payment is due received no later than 14 days from when you first book a site to confirm the reservation.  Last minute bookings require immediate payment online. 

Find your Facility (Event Facilities)

Online requests may be made up to 180 days in advance online. Online requests are accepted no less than 16 days in advance of a use date to allow for review and confirmation (payment) prior to the 14 day general booking cut off period.

Lottery Booking

The earliest you can reserve a park/facility is 10 months in advance through the lottery.  For example, submit a lottery request in May for March dates, or December for October dates. The lottery is most commonly used by wedding or similar events that need advance planning time.  The lottery submittal calendar shows when to submit the lottery form.  If you have missed the lottery period for your desired month of use, the next period to reserve a park is 180 days in advance of the event month in the general booking period.  

 

Facility Information

 

Fiesta Gardens, 2100 Jesse E. Segovia Street

Excellent for small festivals and private events. 200 people or less.

Mayfield Cottage/Gardens, 3801 Old Bull Creek Road

Historic garden location for small private events.  No music allowed at this site. 45 people or less inside.  100 persons with guests required not to exceed 45 inside the cottage.

Pease Park Tudor Cottage, 1100 Kingsbury Street

Whimsical 1920's cottage restored in 2021. Perfect for small receptions, work functions, and intimate life celebrations.  20 person cottage capacity, 120 with cottage and terrace.

Contact:  reservations@peasepark.org

Sparky Park Station Building, 3701 Grooms Street

Perfect for meetings/uses central to this neighborhood.  Extremely limited parking.  30 people or less.  NO amplified sound allowed.

Zilker Clubhouse. 200 Arnulfo Alonso Way

100 persons or less. Construction will occur at the site September 1, 2024 through at least September end 2025. No rentals will be allowed during this time.

Zilker Lodge at Sunshine Camp in Zilker Park, 2225 Andrew Zilker Road

Activity Room - indoor space perfect for receptions, meetings, or casual meals. 80-100 persons. 

Great Room - Indoor space perfect for parties, meals, gatherings and work social events.  Fireplace, comfortable seating, billiards and foosball included.

Contact: zilkerlodge@sunshinecamps.org

Information: https://www.zilkerlodge.com/

 

Book your Facility

Submit a Request Online

Online requests are accepted on a rolling 180 day window, and must be submitted NO LATER THAN 16 days in advance of the reservation date if available.

If sites are available after the 16 day online submittal deadline, you must call or email the office to make reservations prior to the 14 day cut off for all requests.