Fontana, CA Special Events & Permits: Park Event Permits (2026)

Fontana requires a special permit from the community services director before anyone can reserve a football field, soccer field, ball field, tennis court, swimming pool, picnic facility or other park facility (Sec. 19-3(c)), and separately makes it unlawful to hold or take part in a picnic, celebration, community or commercial parade, service or exercise of 100 or more people in a public park without one (Sec. 19-2). Applications for special events and parades are due at least 90 calendar days, and no more than one year, before the proposed use; applications for all other organized activities need only 14 calendar days' notice, also capped at a year out.

Fees set by city council resolution are due 30 days before a special event or parade, or 14 days before other activities, and the director must approve, deny or conditionally approve a completed special-event or parade application within 30 days, or seven days for other activities. The director can attach conditions on time, place, frequency, duration, attendance, parking and required insurance, and may deny, cancel or terminate a permit for reasons including an unavailable facility, an unaddressed public-safety risk, a hazardous condition, a late application, or the applicant's failure to comply with a prior permit.

A parade application must also describe any sound amplifying equipment to be used. An aggrieved applicant has seven calendar days to file a written appeal with the city clerk, and the city council must hear it at its first regular meeting more than 14 calendar days after filing.