Essex County, NJ Public Conduct: Public Alcohol Use (2026)

No person in a County park or property shall bring in, possess, serve, or consume any alcoholic beverages at any time, except that the service and consumption of alcoholic beverages will be permitted (beer and wine only) at duly authorized public events held on County park property, provided that persons desiring to host a special event thereat:

(1) Submit to the Director for approval a fully completed alcoholic beverage special event permit application;

(2) That said application is approved by the Director in his sole discretion;

(3) That persons hosting the special event and all participants therein adhere to the terms and provisions of the alcoholic beverage special event permit rules and regulations; and

(4) That a nonrefundable permit-processing fee in the amount of $150 is submitted together with said application (Cedar Grove Park Robert J. O'Toole Community Center is excluded from the permit processing fee).

B. Alcohol exceptions. The sale and serving of alcohol (beer and wine only) by the contracted concessionaire shall be permitted at the Savannah Cafe located at the Turtle Back Zoo, the Verona Park Boathouse, and at the County's three golf courses: Hendricks Field Golf Course, Weequahic Golf Course and Francis A. Byrne Golf Course. [Amended 4-29-2020 by Ord. No. O-2020-00011; 4-17-2024 by Ord. No. O-2024-00008]

C. Smoking. See Chapter 123.