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

Any person seeking exclusive use of a City park facility or building in Ontario, whether a clubhouse, recreation room, or reserved picnic structure, must file a written application with the Director not less than 10 working days in advance and not more than 6 weeks prior to the proposed use, per Sec. 08. The Director can extend the 10-day window when Council approval is needed, or waive the filing period entirely if the applicant waives all appeal rights. The application must name the applicant, the sponsoring organization, and the person in charge, along with addresses and phone numbers, the specific park, facility, building, or room requested, the start and finish times, the number of persons expected, any additional City equipment or personnel requested such as tables, chairs, or staff, and the nature of the activity and equipment involved.

Under Sec. 09, the Director must grant or deny the application within 10 working days of filing unless that period is waived in writing. A grant requires that expected attendance fit the building's occupancy load as set by the Building Department under Title 8, Chapter 1, and the Director may attach reasonable conditions on time, duration, and headcount. If two groups apply for the same facility at the same time, the first application received is acted on first, and the Director may offer a substitute facility with the applicant's consent.

Denial is mandatory when no facility with adequate capacity exists, the facility is ill-suited to the activity, the applicant refuses to sign onto the permit conditions, the application was untimely and not waived, or the proposed activity would violate federal, state, or local law or endanger public health, peace, safety, or welfare. Sec. 07 further sets that closing times are uniform per park and no exclusive-use permit issues if the City has already scheduled its own event at that time and place, and fees apply by Council resolution.