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

010 requires a permit from the director of parks and community services before any exclusive use of a park facility or area the city council has designated for that purpose. 015 lists which activities actually trigger the requirement: use of a bounce house or similar apparatus, exclusive use of a covered area within any city park, and organized sports leagues or tournament play; permit holders must also comply with all rules, regulations and any use agreement the city manager's office sets. 020, the applicant files with the parks and community services director and must state the applicant's name and address, the sponsoring organization if any, the requested day and hours, the specific park or portion sought, an estimate of anticipated attendance, and whether amplified sound will be used and for what purpose.

030 sets the issuance standards: the space must be available for the requested period, expected attendance must not exceed the area's set capacity, the activity must match the area's established use, the applicant must have met any advance-reservation deadline, any amplified sound must not unreasonably disrupt other park users, the police chief must judge the event will not divert so many officers that citywide protection suffers (or the applicant must cover the added officer cost), the council-set user fee must be paid, and a $100 cash deposit covering cleanup or damage must be filed.

050, though the permittee may appeal the revocation to the city council at its next meeting. Continuing the activity after revocation is itself a misdemeanor.