Atlantic County, NJ Special Events & Permits: Parade Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required
- For special events and public assemblies in County parks
- Processing fee
- $5 nonrefundable per application
- Review factors
- 14 factors weighed under § 97-40
- Alcohol event deposit
- $500 minimum security deposit
- Penalty
- $100 to $500 per offense
- Enforcer
- Division of Parks and Recreation / Park Rangers
Summary
Atlantic County requires a permit before holding a parade, festival, fair or other special event, or a public assembly, in any County parks area under § 97-39. The Division of Parks and Recreation, enforced through Park Rangers, weighs 14 factors under § 97-40 before granting or denying the permit, and applicants pay a nonrefundable $5 processing fee plus site fees.
In order to maintain the orderly and efficient use of the County's parks areas and to preserve parks resources, permits are required for the following:
A. Camping.
B. Boat mooring over 48 hours.
C. Operation of power craft on Lake Lenape.
D. Special events as defined in Article I of this chapter.
E. Public assemblies.
F. Hunting.
G. Sale of merchandise.
H. Use of the challenge course.
I. Cutting of wood.
J. Use of metal detectors.
K. Temporary boat mooring. At Gaskill Park, boats that have not registered with the County as set forth in this chapter shall be permitted to tie temporarily to the bulkhead along the Great Egg Harbor River, only to the extent that designated mooring spaces are available, and only between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 1/2 hour after sunset, daily. Boats that that have not registered with the County as set forth in this chapter shall not moor to the bulkhead at any other time between 1/2 hour after sunset and 7:30 a.m. [Added 4-1-2003 by Ord. No. 7-2003]
L. Weddings. [Added 4-1-2003 by Ord. No. 7-2003]
M.
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
§ 97-45 lets the Division bill an applicant for extraordinary costs such as police traffic control, first aid or signage. A permit or rule violation can result in revocation under § 97-5 and up to a twelve-month ban from the County park system under § 97-6.
Violations & Fines
Violating any provision of Chapter 97, including holding an unpermitted parade or special event, carries a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500 per offense under § 97-7, with each day of violation a separate offense. A court finding of a violation can also trigger permit revocation under § 97-5 and up to a twelve-month ban from the County park system under § 97-6.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to hold a parade in an Atlantic County park?
How much does an Atlantic County park event permit cost?
Can the County deny my special event permit application?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Atlantic County
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