Longmont, CO Special Events & Permits: Park Event Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Reservation trigger
- 15+ people or use over 2 hours
- Without reservation
- first-come, first-served
- Fee
- set by general manager, market rate
- Covers
- parks, nature areas, dog parks, greenways, preserves
- Enforced by
- police, park & watershed rangers (§13.20.080)
- First-offense fine
- $100.00, non-suspendable (§13.20.110)
- Separate permit needed for
- 25+ person special events (ch. 13.37)
Summary
Longmont park shelters run first-come, first-served, but Longmont Municipal Code § 13.20.070 requires a reservation whenever a gathering will draw 15 or more people or use the shelter longer than two hours. The general manager of Public Works and Natural Resources, or a designee, sets the rental fee by market rate, and the permittee may only use the shelter after paying it.
A.All shelters are on a first-come first-serve basis except that a reservation is required for all shelters in the following circumstances:1.An event with 15 or more people;2.Uses longer than two hours, regardless of party size.B.After payment of the facility or shelter rental fee, set by the general manager or designee based on market rates, the permittee may use the reserved facility.
Full Breakdown
010. A shelter reservation is mandatory, not optional, once a gathering meets either trigger: 15 or more attendees, or continuous use past two hours regardless of group size. Below those thresholds, shelters are available on a walk-up, first-come first-served basis and no fee or reservation applies. 070(B). 050, including the ban on glass containers, the requirement to extinguish fires completely, and the rule against blocking public walkways with power cords. 080. 050(A)(13).
Violations & Fines
Occupying a shelter that another party has properly reserved, or refusing to vacate after a reservation holder arrives, is treated as a violation of the public-lands rules enforceable under Longmont Municipal Code § 13.20.110. First offenses draw a mandatory $100.00 fine that cannot be suspended or reduced, a second offense $200.00, and a third or later offense between $300.00 and $500.00. Longmont municipal court has jurisdiction over these fines under §§ 13.20.100 and 13.20.110(C).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to reserve a shelter for a small family picnic in a Longmont park?
How much does it cost to reserve a Longmont park shelter?
What if someone else is using the shelter I reserved?
Can I hold a large group event, like a company picnic for 40 people, under this rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Longmont
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Park Event Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Boulder County handle park event permits.