Atlantic County, NJ Public Conduct: Public Alcohol Use (2026)
Key Facts
- General rule
- No alcohol in County parks areas
- Permitted spots
- Lake Lenape East Catering Hall; approved special events
- Golf course exception
- Green Tree Grill, deck, patio, event tent
- Alcohol event deposit
- $500 minimum security deposit
- Penalty
- $100 to $500 per offense
Summary
Atlantic County bans possessing, consuming or bringing alcohol into any County parks area under § 97-20, with narrow exceptions for the Lake Lenape East Catering Hall, permitted special events at two named parks, and the Green Tree Golf Course clubhouse. Violators face a $100 to $500 fine and can lose park privileges for up to a year.
No person shall possess, dispense, consume, sell, distribute, use, deliver or bring any alcoholic beverage within any County parks area or facility except as follows: (1) As may be permitted in connection with a licensing agreement to use and operate the Catering Hall at Lake Lenape Park East as set forth in this chapter; (2) As may be permitted in connection with a special event at Lake Lenape Park East or Oscar E. McClinton Park, for which the serving of alcohol has been approved as set forth in this chapter; ... (4) As may be permitted pursuant to a licensee or concession agreement duly authorized by the County of Atlantic concerning use and operation of facilities located within the boundaries of the John F. Gaffney Golf Course, including the Green Tree Grill restaurant located at the clubhouse, together with the attached deck and patio areas.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4863463; v25 updated 2026-04-21; through 04-21-2026).
Full Breakdown
§ 97-20A, amended in 2011, 2015, 2018, 2021 and again April 16, 2024 by Ordinance No. 3-2024, bars any person from possessing, dispensing, consuming, selling, distributing, using, delivering or bringing alcoholic beverages into a County parks area or facility, subject to four listed exceptions. The first covers licensees operating the Catering Hall at Lake Lenape Park East under a licensing agreement. The second covers a permitted special event at Lake Lenape Park East or Oscar E. McClinton Park where alcohol service has been separately approved.
The third reserves authority for the County to permit alcohol at other specified facilities by ordinance. The fourth, added April 6, 2021 by Ordinance No. 2-2021, covers licensee or concession operations at the John F. Gaffney Golf Course, including the Green Tree Grill restaurant, its deck and patio, a designated event-tent area, and golf-cart beverage service by the Grill's operator. Subsection B requires anyone seeking to possess, serve or sell alcohol at these locations to also comply with the New Jersey Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission's requirements as well as Chapter 97.
Special events approved to include alcohol must post a security deposit of at least $500 under § 97-43B, on top of the standard event permit and site fees. Park Rangers, the Division of Parks and Recreation's enforcement arm, police the ban.
Violations & Fines
Bringing, possessing or consuming alcohol in a County parks area outside the four permitted exceptions violates § 97-20A and is punishable under § 97-7 at not less than $100 nor more than $500 per offense, with each day of a continuing violation treated separately. A court finding a violation can revoke any permit involved under § 97-5 and support up to a twelve-month ban from the County park system under § 97-6.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drink alcohol in an Atlantic County park?
Do I need a permit to serve alcohol at a park event?
What happens if I'm caught drinking alcohol in a County park where it isn't allowed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Atlantic County
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