El Dorado County, CA Special Events & Permits: Park Event Permits (2026)

Under El Dorado County Code Sec. 220, any reserved activity involving noncommercial use of county parks, including day camping, overnight camping, group picnics, group gatherings and other events, requires a park use permit issued by the Parks Manager. The permit exists to ensure the activity conforms with park rules, to avoid scheduling conflicts among group activities, and to let the County plan for the operation, maintenance and security impacts of the group activity; the code specifically states the requirement is not meant to limit constitutional free-expression rights.

To apply, an authorized representative of the person or group planning, sponsoring or hosting the activity must submit a County-provided application form to the Department at least 14 days before the proposed activity, along with a fee set by resolution of the Board of Supervisors. That fee is capped at the amount necessary to offset the administrative, operational, maintenance and security costs the county reasonably expects the activity to impose. The Manager can shorten or waive the 14-day filing window for good cause. The Manager must approve the permit unless the proposed activity conflicts with applicable park rules, regulations or policies, or conflicts in time, place or manner with an activity already holding an approved permit; the Manager's decision is due within 14 calendar days or by the event date, whichever comes first. 320.