The Park Use Rules & Regulations are the rules the City and County of Denver Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) has adopted for public activities, uses and behavior in parks, parkways, Mountain Parks, recreation facilities and other DPR facilities. They cover curfews, closures, permits, alcohol, fires, dogs, trails, sales and more, and they are enforced through Chapter 39 of the Denver Revised Municipal Code (DRMC). It is one of the Denver city documents people look for when they search "denver 311" for park questions. On FillingPDF you can view the document and download or print the PDF; the rules and any permits come from DPR.
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What is Park Use Rules & Regulations – Denver, CO?
The Park Use Rules & Regulations are the written rules adopted by the Denver Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) that restrict or prohibit certain public activities and behavior in Park Facilities, and that the City enforces through Article I of Chapter 39 of the Denver Revised Municipal Code (DRMC).
The version on this page was adopted 5-11-12 and amended and restated effective May 27, 2015. DPR adopted it under section 2.4.4 of the Denver City Charter, and it supersedes the 1993 rules. The text says the rules are organized in the same order as the enforcement ordinances, with the DRMC section noted beside each rule.
A "Park Facility" means a park, parkway, Mountain Park, recreational facility or other publicly used facility operated under DPR. Mountain Parks are the City-owned parks and open space DPR operates in Arapahoe, Clear Creek, Douglas and Jefferson counties.
Part III covers, among other topics:
- curfews and closures, directives, passive recreation areas and permits;
- admission fees, camping, fires, fireworks, firearms and weapons;
- alcohol, marijuana, smoking, sales and gambling, noise;
- fishing, waters, animals and dog parks, trails, motorized vehicles, sports facilities, boating and golf.
This is a rulebook, not an application. It does not issue permits; those come from DPR under its permitting rules and policies. Administrative citations are governed by a separate set, the Administrative Citations Rules & Regulations.
Who needs to file Park Use Rules & Regulations – Denver, CO?
The rules apply to members of the public who enter a Park Facility, engage in activities there or make any use of it. Anyone planning a visit, event, sale, camping trip, dog outing or sports activity in a Denver park can use the document to check what is allowed.
The rules do not apply to:
- DPR or other City staff performing their duties in a Park Facility;
- police, fire and emergency personnel performing their duties there;
- contracted persons providing services, installing equipment or making improvements under a purchase order or City contract;
- other persons the DPR Executive Director has authorized, as long as they stay within that authorization.
Many rules have exceptions for events or activities covered by a permit or City contract, provided the holder follows the permit's terms. Compliance with these rules does not replace other requirements: the document says it does not override other City ordinances and rules, licenses or permits required by other City departments, or federal and state law. Permit holders and their guests must also follow the terms of the permit.
When to file Park Use Rules & Regulations – Denver, CO
Nothing is filed with this document; it applies whenever you enter or use a Park Facility. Check it before you go, and before you plan any activity that needs a permit.
Permits must be obtained in advance for Festivals, Demonstrations, Race/Walks, Picnics/Special Occasions and Singular Events, as the rules define them in section 3B.1. Camping requires a camping permit. Admission fees, where an ordinance authorizes them, must be paid before access.
Timing rules in the document include:
- City Curfew for parks, recreational facilities and certain parkway medians runs from 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
- Mountain Parks Curfew runs from one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise.
- A DPR Executive Director Directive that restricts an activity stays in effect for 180 days unless a shorter period is set.
Documents you need
- Camping permit, if you camp in a Campground: it must be available for inspection at all times (section 5A.3.1).
- State fishing license, if you fish in City Waters at a location designated for public fishing (section 11.3).
- Receipt or other proof of payment, if an Admission Fee applies and the receipt prescribes that it be shown or kept available (section 3A.2).
- Current rabies vaccination tag issued to the dog, attached to its collar or harness, if you bring a dog into a Dog Park (section 13A.4.3).
- The valid permit for your event or activity, if you hold one: you must follow its terms, and it can be presented to ask the public to vacate the permitted area (section 3).
How to fill out Park Use Rules & Regulations – Denver, CO
Confirm the rules apply to you
Read Part I.C. The rules cover members of the public using a Park Facility; DPR and City staff, emergency personnel, contractors and persons authorized by the DPR Executive Director are excluded.
Check the definitions in Part II
Look up terms such as Park Facility, Parkway and Mountain Parks, which decide whether a given rule covers your location.
Find your activity in Part III
Use the table of contents to locate the section for what you plan to do, such as curfews (1.0), fires (6.1), alcohol (8.1), dogs (13.0), trails (16.0) or golf (19.0).
Check curfews, closures and directives
Section 1.0 sets City Curfew and Mountain Parks Curfew and explains closures. Section 2.0 explains Directives, which can restrict uses for up to 180 days.
Decide whether you need a permit
Section 3B.2 requires advance permits for Festivals, Demonstrations, Race/Walks, Picnics/Special Occasions and Singular Events. Camping, commercial activity and sports facility use have their own permit rules.
Note exceptions and posted notices
Many rules list exceptions for permitted events and for areas the DPR Executive Director designates. Signs and verbal notices from DPR staff or enforcement officials can add specific restrictions.
Download or print the PDF
Download or print the document from FillingPDF to keep the rules at hand. There are no blanks to complete; obtain any permit through DPR.
How to submit Park Use Rules & Regulations – Denver, CO
There is nothing to submit: the Park Use Rules & Regulations are a rulebook, not an application, and no filing address, portal or appointment is printed in them.
What the document does point to:
- Permits: the rules describe permits issued by DPR, including a Permit issued by the DPR Permitting Office for Festivals, Demonstrations, Race/Walks, Picnics/Special Occasions, Singular Events, team sports in sports facilities, commercial activity and private recreation center rentals. Camping permits are required for camping in campgrounds. The City's Park Rentals and Permits page is at https://denvergov.org/Community/Parks-and-Public-Spaces/Park-Rentals-and-Permits.
- Admission fees: where an ordinance authorizes them, they are paid before entry and proof of payment must be available or displayed as prescribed on the receipt. The amount is set by the City, not by this document.
- Enforcement: violations can lead to police tickets, court fines or administrative citations.
FillingPDF lets you view and download the PDF; any permit or payment follows the City's own channels.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Entering a park, recreational facility or listed parkway median between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. without a permit or City contract covering the activity.
- Holding a gathering of more than fifty persons, or a by-invitation function of more than twenty-five, without the required permit obtained in advance.
- Bringing alcohol into a Park Facility for personal consumption; only 3.2 Beer is allowed, and neither may be possessed within 50 feet of a roadway, playground, recreation center or swimming pool.
- Letting a dog run loose or leaving it unattended outside a designated Dog Park, or not picking up and disposing of its excrement.
- Taking a dog into a Dog Park without a current rabies vaccination tag, or with a person in charge under 16, or with more than two dogs per person.
- Selling goods or services in a park, or on streets and sidewalks within 300 feet of a park boundary, without a Concession License, Contract or Permit.
- Bringing bottles or glass containers into a Park Facility outside areas where a concession or permit expressly allows them.
- Riding a bicycle or other Human-Powered Device above 15 miles per hour on a Trail or Park Road unless a different limit is posted.
Frequently asked questions
What are the Denver Park Use Rules and Regulations?
They are the rules the Denver Department of Parks and Recreation adopted for public uses and behavior in parks, parkways, Mountain Parks and recreation facilities. They are enforced through Chapter 39, Article I of the Denver Revised Municipal Code. This version was amended and restated May 27, 2015.
What are the curfew hours in Denver parks?
City Curfew is 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. for parks, recreational facilities and listed parkway medians. In Mountain Parks, curfew runs from one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise. Regional trails and park roads stay open only for passing through.
Can I drink alcohol in a Denver park?
Not Alcohol Beverages you bring yourself. The rules allow personal consumption of 3.2 Beer, but neither may be possessed or consumed within 50 feet of a roadway, playground, recreation center or swimming pool. Sales and service need a Concession License, Contract or Permit.
Do I need a permit for a birthday party or gathering in a park?
Yes, for a Picnic/Special Occasion, which is a by-invitation gathering of more than twenty-five persons, held at a site DPR has authorized. A gathering of more than fifty persons that is not another listed type may be a Singular Event. Permits must be obtained in advance.
Can my dog be off leash in Denver parks?
Only in a designated Dog Park, where dogs may run off leash if they are under control and in view. Elsewhere dogs must be leashed, and on trails the leash can be no longer than six feet. Pit bulls are prohibited in Park Facilities.
Are fires, grills and fireworks allowed in Denver parks?
Fires are allowed only in provided grills, fire pits and fireplaces, or in charcoal or gas grills you bring, and must be attended. All fires are banned when a fire ban order is issued. Fireworks are prohibited unless a permit or City contract authorizes a professional display.
What is the bike speed limit on Denver park trails?
The basic limit for Human-Powered Devices on a Trail or Park Road is 15 miles per hour unless otherwise posted, and lower when conditions such as heavy traffic or bad weather call for it. Operators must yield to pedestrians and slower users.
Can I fill out the Park Use Rules & Regulations online?
There is nothing to complete: it is a rulebook, not an application. FillingPDF lets you view and download or print the PDF, but it does not issue permits, file anything or enforce the rules; permits come from DPR.
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