Fresno County, CA Special Events & Permits: Park Event Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit issued by
- Dept. of Public Works and Planning
- Reservation basis
- First-come, first-served
- Deposit trigger
- Groups of 25+ people
- Deposit rate
- $10 per 100 persons
- Fee deadline
- 60 days before event
- Cancellation refund window
- 30 days notice
Summary
Reserving a Fresno County park or picnic area for a group gathering requires a permit from the director of public works and planning under Code Section 13.16.040(B). Reservations run first-come, first-served; groups of 25 or more post a cleanup deposit, and Section 13.16.040(C) adds a separate use fee due 60 days before the event.
B.Persons desiring to reserve park and picnicking facilities must obtain a permit therefor from the director of public works and planning or designee or a member of his staff who may assign and reserve particular areas therefor on a first-come, first-serve basis. It is unlawful for any person other than those designated in the permit to occupy any areas so assigned when signs making known such reservation have been posted or such persons have been otherwise informed thereof by the director of public works and planning or a member of his staff. Any person desiring to reserve an area to accommodate twenty-five or more persons shall make a deposit with the director of public works and planning or designee at the rate of ten dollars per one hundred persons or any part thereof. This deposit shall be for the purpose of guaranteeing that the person obtaining the reservation will clean up the area and that no damage to any park property will occur. The deposit shall be returned if the area is left clean and no damage is committed.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 51).
Full Breakdown
040(B). The director of public works and planning, a designee, or staff member assigns and reserves specific areas "on a first-come, first-serve basis," and it is unlawful for anyone other than the permit holder to occupy a reserved area once reservation signs are posted or the reservation has otherwise been made known. Groups of twenty-five or more people must put down a cleanup and damage deposit "at the rate of ten dollars per one hundred persons or any part thereof," refundable only if the area is left clean and undamaged; otherwise the county keeps the deposit and routes it to the general fund through the auditor-controller/treasurer-tax collector.
040(C): the county charges a use fee, set by Board of Supervisors resolution, to any person, group or organization reserving facilities in a county-maintained park, meant to cover costs beyond normal maintenance. That fee and the reservation must be finalized not later than sixty days before the proposed use, and the fee is non-refundable unless the applicant cancels at least thirty days ahead of the event, though the director can waive either deadline at his discretion. 080, with waivers available for schools, public agencies, charitable service projects, and veterans.
Violations & Fines
Occupying a reserved county park area without being named on the permit, once reservation signs are posted, is unlawful under Section 13.16.040(B) and falls back to the county's general misdemeanor penalty in Section 1.12.010, up to a $500 fine and six months in jail, since Chapter 13.16 sets no separate penalty schedule of its own. Failing to leave a reserved area clean or causing damage forfeits the cleanup deposit to the county.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to reserve a picnic area in a Fresno County park?
How much is the deposit for a large group event?
When is the park use fee due?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fresno County
California rules heatmap·Compare Fresno County to another location·View the California special events & permits overview
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