Bozeman, MT Special Events & Permits: Park Event Permits (2026)

Reservation permits are governed by Bozeman Municipal Code chapter 26, article 2. Under section 26.02.050 the application goes to the director on city forms, and the director is the director of parks and recreation as defined in section 26.02.020. The applicant must be at least 18 years of age. If an open container waiver is requested, the applicant must be at least 21. The filing window is no less than 15 working days and not more than 180 days before the event begins. The director can waive the minimum period after considering the date, time, place and nature of the event, the anticipated number of participants and the city services required, but only if the waiver will not unduly burden city services or interfere with another approved or pending event.

An event with 75 or more expected participants also needs a public assembly permit, issued under the standards in section 34.08.140. Public drinking is prohibited in parks under section 4.04.030, and a waiver under section 4.04.050 needs a separate application and fee.

Section 26.02.060 tells the director to act within 15 working days after the application is complete, unless the applicant agrees otherwise. Grounds for conditions or denial include unreasonable noise, inadequate sanitation, insufficient parking near the site, an event whose primary purpose is advertising a product for private profit, and a conflicting reservation for the same time and general location. Section 26.02.040 adds that only parks designated by the director can be reserved for exclusive use, parking is first-come and not reserved, and amplified sound is limited to 12:00 noon to 9:00 p.m. with a three consecutive hour cap. In Bogert Park the cap is two consecutive hours, Monday through Saturday only.

Section 26.02.080 requires commercial general liability insurance naming the city as additional insured, in minimum amounts of $750,000.00 per claimant and $1,500,000.00 per occurrence to the extent reasonably possible. Section 26.02.100 sets a nonrefundable processing fee by commission resolution and lets the director require a deposit.