Aiken County, SC Special Events & Permits: Park Event Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Rental agreement required
- § 16-2(a)
- Costs/deposits
- Set by county ordinance
- Special event fees
- Set by PRT director, § 16-4
- Ballfields
- Reservation only, § 16-2(c)
- Commercial use barred at rec center
- § 16-1(b)
- Minimum penalty for rule violation
- 1-day suspension
Summary
Anyone wanting to reserve an Aiken County park or facility for a gathering must sign the rental agreement the county administrator develops under Code § 16-2(a), pay the ordinance-set costs and deposit, and the parks, recreation and tourism director sets separate fees for special events under § 16-4.
(a)The county administrator shall develop a rental agreement for the rental of county parks and facilities. Costs and deposit amounts for use of county parks and facilities shall be established by ordinance. ... Sec. 16-4. - Fees for special events. The parks, recreation and tourism director is hereby authorized to set special event fees and to accept donations from sponsors for said events.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 119).
Full Breakdown
Section 16-2(a) directs the county administrator to 'develop a rental agreement for the rental of county parks and facilities,' with the costs and deposit amounts for that rental fixed by county ordinance rather than left to staff discretion. For larger public gatherings, § 16-4 separately authorizes the parks, recreation and tourism director to 'set special event fees and to accept donations from sponsors for said events,' a distinct charge layered on top of the base facility rental. Ballfields carry their own reservation rule: the Aiken County Ballfield Rules printed in § 16-2(c) state that fields are for 'use of fields by reservation only,' with each team or league responsible for preparing the field it reserves and no unauthorized concession stands allowed.
cutoff on radio play. Because § 16-1(b) separately bars renting recreation-center facilities such as the pool, buildings or playground 'for commercial or private profit-making purposes,' a for-profit promoter cannot use the standard park reservation to run a paid event; only nonprofit and personal-use bookings qualify for facility rental under this chapter.
Violations & Fines
Using a county park or facility without the required rental agreement, or violating the posted park rules during a reserved event, exposes the renter to the penalty schedule in § 16-2(d): a minimum one-day suspension of park privileges for refusing to obey a posted rule or staff, rising to a one-week suspension for fighting or alcohol violations, with police notified for drug offenses or acts endangering public safety.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to hold an event at an Aiken County park?
Can I run a for-profit event at the Aiken County recreation center?
How do I reserve a ballfield in Aiken County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Aiken County
Compare Aiken County to another location·View the South Carolina special events & permits overview
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