Richardson, TX Special Events & Permits: Park Event Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Booking required for
- Fields, tennis courts, pavilions, tournaments
- Approval authority
- Parks & recreation director
- Advertising
- Also needs prior approval (Sec. 15-65(c))
- City events
- Can be exempted from park rules (15-64)
- Financial responsibility
- Renter pays damage & city service costs
- Penalty for unapproved use
- Up to $500 fine (Sec. 1-8)
Summary
Reserving a Richardson park facility, fields, tennis courts, pavilions, for a tournament, camp, organized sporting event or game requires prescheduled director approval under Sec. 15-65(a), and any advertising of the event or its hours must also be approved in advance under Sec. 15-65(c).
Sec. 15-64. - City sponsored events. City sponsored events or use of park and park facilities may be exempted from the requirements contained in sections 15-61, 15-62, and 15-63 upon written approval by the director. Sec. 15-65. - Park facilities. (a)Use of park facilities, including but not limited to, fields, tennis courts, and pavilions, for tournaments, camps, organized sporting events, and games must be prescheduled with and approved by the director.(b)The director shall have the authority to issue special permits, grant exceptions, or waivers to any of the terms of sections 15-61, 15-62 and 15-63 for authorized events and activities.(c)No person shall advertise an event, meeting or activity or the time, permitted hours, or usage of an event, meeting, or activity to be held or conducted in a park facility unless such event, meeting or activity and advertisement of such event, meeting, or activity and the time, permitted hours, or usage have been approved by the director.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 35 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
Section 15-65 governs the reservation of park facilities. Subsection (a) requires that use of facilities including fields, tennis courts and pavilions for tournaments, camps, organized sporting events and games be prescheduled with, and approved by, the parks and recreation director before the activity happens. m. Subsection (c) separately bars advertising an event, meeting or activity, including its time, permitted hours, or usage, in a park facility unless that advertising has itself been approved by the director. Section 15-64 adds that city-sponsored events can be exempted from Sections 15-61 through 15-63 entirely upon written approval by the director.
Once a reservation is granted, Sec. 15-66 makes the reserving person, group or organization financially responsible for any damage to city property and for the cost of maintenance, police, fire or other public safety services dispatched because of misuse or unlawful use of the facility.
Violations & Fines
Using a park facility for an organized event without prescheduled director approval, or advertising an event before that approval is granted, violates Sec. 15-65. A violation is punishable under the general penalty in Sec. 1-8, up to $500 per offense, and the organizer remains liable under Sec. 15-66 for property damage and for police, fire or maintenance costs the city incurs responding to the event.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to reserve a Richardson park pavilion?
Can I advertise my event before the city approves it?
Who pays if my reserved event damages the park?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Richardson
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Richardson to another location·View the Texas special events & permits overview
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Park Event Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Dallas County handle park event permits.