Tippecanoe County, IN Special Events & Permits: Park Event Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Approval required
- Written approval for after-hours park/fairground events
- Exhibit Hall rate
- $300 deposit, $300-$400 daily rent
- Home Economics Bldg rate
- $450 deposit, $450-$600 daily rent
- Normal hours
- 1/2 hr before sunrise to 1/2 hr after sunset
- Maximum fine
- $2,500 per violation (§93.99)
Summary
Tippecanoe County requires prior written approval before anyone holds an event or operates a vehicle in a county park or the fairgrounds outside normal operating hours, under Code § 93.17(C). Renting a fairgrounds building for that event costs a set deposit plus a daily rate that runs higher for admission-charging or fee-generating activities, per the § 93.18 fee schedule.
§ 93.17 TRAFFIC AND PARKING REGULATIONS.
(C) No motorized vehicle, bicycles, or other vehicles shall be operated in or parked in the fairgrounds or the parks outside of the hours in which they are open except with the prior written approval of the agency in charge of the property or their representative or when attending an event conducted upon the property with the prior written approval of the agency in charge of the property and/or their representative.
§ 93.18 SCHEDULE OF FEES AND CHARGES. There is hereby established the following uniform schedule of charges and fees which shall be charged and collected for use of facilities and grounds at the Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds: Exhibit Hall 40' x 120'=4,800' $300 $300 $400 Home Economics 190' x 50'=9,500' $450 $450 $600
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2025 S-17: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. 2025-25-CM, passed 8-1-25; and State legislation current through 2025 Acts, Pamphlet No. 3).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 93 puts the Tippecanoe County Park and Recreation Board and the fairgrounds administration in charge of every reservation. 15, so any evening wedding, festival or gathering needs that written sign-off before it can run past dusk. 18 sets the uniform rental schedule for fairgrounds buildings and grounds. The Home Economics Building (190' x 50') runs a $450 deposit and $450 daily rent for a free event, rising to $600 for a fee-generating event. The Exhibit Hall (40' x 120') costs a $300 deposit and $300 or $400 daily rent depending on whether the event charges admission or generates revenue.
The current schedule was set by Ord. 2013-47-CM, replacing earlier rates adopted with the chapter in 2000. Anyone renting space for a private party, fundraiser, or vendor show pays the higher "fee generating" tier because admission or sales are involved, while a free community gathering pays the lower rate. The Board of Commissioners or the Park and Recreation Board can extend hours for a scheduled event, which is the mechanism that turns an after-hours gathering into an authorized one.
Violations & Fines
Operating a vehicle, holding an event, or remaining on park or fairgrounds property outside open hours or without the required written approval violates Chapter 93 and is punishable under § 93.99 by a fine of not more than $2,500. Renting a building without paying the § 93.18 deposit and daily rate is handled administratively by the agency in charge of the property before access is granted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need permission to hold an event at a Tippecanoe County park or the fairgrounds?
How much does it cost to rent a fairgrounds building?
What happens if I use the fairgrounds or a county park without approval?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tippecanoe County
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