Bucks County, PA Special Events & Permits: Park Event Permits (2026)

1 lists what needs a permit before use: recreational buildings, pavilions, and camping grounds; athletic fields; any reserved area of the Park System; events or activities expected to draw thirty-five or more people; overnight motor vehicle parking; commercial uses such as concessions or photography; special uses like guided tours, 5k walks, company picnics, weddings, family reunions, and workshops; and geocaching or metal detecting. 2, a person or association requests a permit at the Department office online, in person, or by phone, and the Department will not issue the permit until any required fee or deposit is paid.

Permits go out first come, first served, though the Department's own programming gets priority, and no one under eighteen may be issued a permit to use the Park System; only the Director, and not a delegate, can waive a permit fee. 3 sets the issuance test: the proposed use must not unreasonably interfere with general public enjoyment of the Park System, must not present a substantial or unwarranted safety hazard, the facility must not already be reserved, the use must not risk property damage, it must comply with all Rules and Regulations, the applicant must carry any insurance the County requires, and the applicant must have the financial capacity to maintain public safety during the event and cover any liability claims.

The Department also weighs a park's normal size and purpose, its surroundings, and available facilities. A denial of a permit or fee waiver can be appealed in writing to the Bucks County Board of Commissioners within ten business days, and any violation of permit terms triggers immediate revocation plus forfeiture of fees and deposits already paid.