The Community Gardens Program supports garden projects on many kinds of land, but this guide is specifically for starting a community garden on City owned parkland. City-permitted community gardens must be maintained by at least four dedicated volunteers who don't share a household and are not family.
The 2025 permit application cycle will open on August 28, 2025, and will close September 18, 2025. We will begin reviewing new community garden applications in mid-September of 2025. If you are interested in starting a community garden, please first consider joining an existing garden with open plots near you. To join a community garden, please visit Coalition of Austin Community Gardens website.
How to Apply to Start a New Community Garden