Bowie, MD Special Events & Permits: Park Event Permits (2026)

Section 17-3 of the City of Bowie Code sets the rules for permits and fees covering activities that § 17-2 requires authorization for, including private grills over six square feet, alcohol service, ticket or concession sales, solicitation of money, canopies and tents, and monopolizing specific facilities like athletic fields, picnic areas, or the amphitheater under § 17-2AA. Fees for these use or activity permits are established in the annual City budget under § 17-3A rather than fixed in the ordinance itself. Every permit must be signed both by an official or responsible member of the requesting group and by the City Manager or a designee before it takes effect, per § 17-3B.

The City retains broad authority to police these reservations: § 17-3C allows the City to revoke a permit and deny future permits if it determines the group made improper use of park facilities, and § 17-3D lets the City Manager cancel a facilities permit because of inclement weather if the facilities would otherwise be damaged. Applicants request many of these authorizations, such as ticket sales, alcohol service, or a canopy, through a written special authorization form issued by the City upon request, and the City Manager can deny any request that would impair public health, safety, or welfare in his opinion.

Groups reserving athletic fields, picnic areas, lakes, streams, tennis courts, gazebos, or parking lots for exclusive use under § 17-2AA must put that request in writing to the City Manager, and ball fields specifically are described as available strictly by permit under § 17-2Q.