Abington, PA Special Events & Permits: Park Event Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 115-1A(29)
- Permitting agency
- Department of Parks and Recreation
- Residency requirement
- 25% of group must be Township residents
- Advance notice
- Application at least 24 hours ahead
- Maximum fine
- $100 plus costs
- Related rule
- Park use limited to residents/guests, § 115-1A(32)
Summary
Groups, parties or individuals who want to occupy an Abington Township park facility need a permit from the Department of Parks and Recreation under Code § 115-1A(29). At least 25% of anyone using the permit must be Township residents, and applications are due at least 24 hours before the event. Violations are handled as summary offenses under Chapter 115.
(29) No groups, parties or individuals shall occupy a park facility in the Township of Abington unless a permit has been secured for such occupancy from the Department of Parks and Recreation Office, Township Building, Abington, Pennsylvania. Any groups, parties or individuals desiring the use of any park facility must be represented by a ratio of 25% of Township residents, whose names and addresses must be submitted in writing prior to issuance of a permit. No permit shall be issued unless an application therefor shall have been made at least 24 hours in advance of the time for which the occupancy is desired.
Full Breakdown
Township Code § 115-1A(29), amended by Ordinance No. 1856 in 2000 and originally by Ordinance No. 1174 in 1966, requires that "no groups, parties or individuals shall occupy a park facility in the Township of Abington unless a permit has been secured for such occupancy from the Department of Parks and Recreation Office, Township Building, Abington, Pennsylvania." The section sets two conditions on top of the permit itself: at least 25% of the group must be Township residents, whose names and addresses have to be submitted in writing before the permit issues, and the application must be filed at least 24 hours before the desired occupancy time.
The permit requirement sits within the broader Chapter 115 park regulations, first adopted in 1939 and rewritten in full in 1963, and it works alongside § 115-1A(26), which lets the same department issue a no-fee overnight camping permit. Park usage generally is also restricted to Township residents and their guests under § 115-1A(32), reinforcing the residency threshold built into the event-permit rule. The Department of Parks and Recreation enforces this permit rule under § 115-2A, and a permit issued under § 115-1A(29) can be revoked for any Chapter 115 violation under § 115-4A.
Violations & Fines
Occupying an Abington Township park facility without the § 115-1A(29) permit, or violating its residency and advance-notice conditions, is enforced under § 115-4B as a summary offense. A District Justice can impose a fine of up to $100 plus prosecution costs, with up to five days in the township lockup if the fine and costs are not paid. The Department of Parks and Recreation may also revoke the permit under § 115-4A.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to hold a party at an Abington Township park?
Does everyone in my group need to live in Abington Township to get a park permit?
What happens if I use an Abington park facility without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Abington
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