Dane County, WI Public Conduct: Public Alcohol Use (2026)
Key Facts
- Trigger group size
- 10 or more persons of legal drinking age
- Permit required from
- Dane County Parks Division
- Who must hold it
- Person in charge of the group
- Forfeiture for no permit
- $25 (ch. 2.06 schedule)
- Revocation power
- Any parks employee or officer, for cause
Summary
Dane County does not ban drinking in its parks outright, but any group of ten or more people of legal drinking age who bring or serve alcoholic beverages must first get a written alcoholic beverage permit from the Parks Division. The permit holder must carry it and produce it for any ranger or officer on request.
53.02 PERMITS. (1) Written permits shall be required for any of the following and must be purchased prior to use: ... (f) The possession or drinking of any alcoholic beverages by any group of ten (10) or more persons of legal drinking age; ... 53.08 SHELTER RESERVATIONS. (4) Whenever alcoholic beverages are served in any group of 10 or more persons of legal drinking age, the person in charge of the group must obtain a valid alcoholic beverage permit. The permit must be held by the person in charge and shall be presented to any park employee or law enforcement officer upon request.
Full Breakdown
County Code ch. 08(4) whenever alcohol is served to a group of ten or more, "the person in charge of the group must obtain a valid alcoholic beverage permit," hold onto it, and show it to a parks employee or law enforcement officer if asked. 08(5) if that person judges people or property are put at risk by letting the group keep using the space. Smaller gatherings and individuals aren't covered by this permit trigger, so ordinary day use with alcohol under the ten-person threshold isn't separately licensed by the county.
This is a parks-specific rule; Dane County zoning and general ordinances don't reach streets and sidewalks inside incorporated cities and villages such as Madison, Sun Prairie, or Stoughton, which set their own downtown open-container rules separately from the county code.
Violations & Fines
Failing to secure the required alcoholic beverage permit before a group of ten or more drinks in a county park is a permit violation under ch. 53.02, carrying a $25 forfeiture per the county's citation schedule (County Code ch. 2.06, item tied to 53.02). Beyond the fine, 53.08(5) lets a parks employee or law enforcement officer revoke the shelter reservation and the group's continued use of the site on the spot if safety is a concern.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drink alcohol in a Dane County park by myself or with a few friends?
Who has to carry the alcohol permit at a park event?
What happens if a group skips the permit?
Does this county rule apply inside the City of Madison?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Dane County
Compare Dane County to another location·View the Wisconsin public conduct overview
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