Twin Falls County, ID Special Events & Permits: Park Event Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Licensing authority
- County Parks and Recreation Advisory Board
- Fee basis
- Extent and duration of property use
- Unlicensed event penalty
- Up to 2x the license fee
- Lease term cap
- 5 years maximum
- Lease insurance
- $1,000,000 liability, county named insured
- Appeal window
- 10 calendar days to County Commissioners
Summary
Anyone holding a fundraising concert, video shoot or other onetime commercial event in a Twin Falls County park or waterfront park needs a license from the County Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. The board sets a fee scaled to how much of the property is used and for how long, and skipping the license is an infraction.
COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY: Includes any person, partnership or corporation, operating any occupation, work, trade or traffic, whether for profit or not. Commercial activity includes the ongoing sale of services or goods and onetime events such as fundraising concerts or video productions. ... ... A. Any party desiring to conduct any phase of a commercial activity within or from any boundary of a park or waterfront park must secure a license for such purpose from the Twin Falls County parks and advisory board (the board) or their designated agent. B. In issuing license for onetime events, the board may consider the public's health, safety, welfare, and may charge a reasonable license fee to help defray the cost of park maintenance and cleanup. ... ... 2. Failure to obtain a license required under this section shall constitute an infraction, subjecting any violator to a fine of no more than twice the applicable license fee.
Full Breakdown
" Any party conducting such activity within or from the boundary of a park or waterfront park (a term covering Centennial Park, Murtaugh Lake Park, Drexler Park and similar sites) must secure a license from the Twin Falls County Parks and Recreation Advisory Board or its designated agent before the event. For onetime events, the board weighs public health, safety and welfare and may charge a license fee set by a schedule tied to the extent of property use and how long the event runs, with proceeds going toward park maintenance and cleanup.
Ongoing commercial services, such as boat tours, balloon rides or refreshment stands, are handled differently: they require a lease rather than a onetime license, limited to one concessionaire per lease unless the board authorizes otherwise, capped at a five-year term, and conditioned on proof of $1,000,000 liability insurance naming the county, South Central Public Health District sign-off, and Sheriff's Office approval for any marine activity. No license or lease may be sold or transferred without board consent. An applicant denied a license or lease can appeal in writing to the Board of County Commissioners through the County Clerk within ten calendar days of the denial.
Violations & Fines
Holding a licensable park event without first obtaining board approval is an infraction. The fixed penalty is capped at no more than twice the applicable license fee, so the cost of skipping the paperwork scales with the fee the event would have owed. Failing to pay a lease fee within thirty days of its due date is a separate chapter violation and grounds for lease termination.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a fundraising concert in a Twin Falls County park?
How is the park event license fee set?
What happens if I hold an event without a license?
Can I appeal if the board denies my park event application?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Twin Falls County
Compare Twin Falls County to another location·View the Idaho special events & permits overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.