Parks Policies and Regulations

Online Reservations

1. Park shelters and facilities are available to reserve on a first come, first serve basis.
2. Facilities are available to reserve up to one year in advance of the event date (year-to-date).
3. Facility reservations can be made online, in person, or via phone. 
4. Payments are accepted in the form of cash or card. Payment is required at the time of booking, Allegheny County Parks facilities will not be placed on “hold”. Accepted cards include Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover, and Diner's Club.

Applicants for permits for Allegheny County Parks shelters and facilities are required to adhere to the following regulations:

1. Comply with all of the Allegheny County Parks rules and regulations, plus any and all amendments made to the user.
2. Comply with any and all directives of the Allegheny County Police and Allegheny County Parks personnel.
3. An alcohol permit is required if alcoholic beverages are to be served.
4. The representative of the renting group acknowledges by signature to be at least 18 years old, or at least 21 years old if an alcohol permit is requested.
5. Agree to be held responsible for whatever damage is done to the facility while in use.
6. Tables must not be moved by park patrons.
7. Charging admission for park areas and buildings is against Park Policies and Regulations (see Article 1: Section 9. Merchandising). Permit holders who wish to charge the public for admission to an event must submit a written letter to the Parks Department at least two weeks prior to the date listed on the permit. Approval of admission fee requests are subject to the Director of Parks’ discretion.
8. Contact the Allegheny County Police at 412-473-3000 in case of emergencies, problems or difficulties.
9. Those who wish to hold an event outside of a specific permit area must submit a written request and obtain approval by from the Director of the Parks. 

Special events, promotions, and rates are established in accordance with the Department of Parks Reimbursement Policy and Procedure, at the discretion of the Parks Director. 

A fifty-percent (50%) fee reduction for rental of park facilities is offered to non-profit organizations providing satisfactory 501(c) 3 tax-exempt documentation and/or IRS non-profit documentation. The request for discounted rate must be submitted in writing for approval by the Director of Parks.

The Director of the Parks Department may, at their discretion and upon furnishing reasonable advance notice to Allegheny County Council, establish temporary promotional discount rates from time to time, as appropriate.

Some items may be subject to sales tax, as indicated by an asterisk (*).

Shelter or Facility Rental Refunds

Permit holders may request a refund for a shelter or facility. The permit holder is responsible for ensuring the form has been received within the correct time frame to receive a refund.  These deadlines can be found on the form.

Facility and Shelter Refund Request Form(PDF, 286KB)

Activity/Programming Cancellations

Activity or Program cancellations must be made at least 24 hours in advance.

Activity/Programming Cancellation Policy(PDF, 136KB)

All refunds are issued at the discretion of the Director of Parks. All Park and Recreational Facilities will close upon declaration of emergency, as announced by the County Executive or Director of Parks, for health, safety and welfare considerations. 

Article I - Prohibited Activities

The below-listed activities are specifically prohibited in any area lying within a county park. Exceptions to these prohibitions will be recognized only upon possession and presentation of a written authorization signed by the Director of the Parks Department, by signs posted by authorized representatives of the Director, or by immediate direction of a county police officer.

Section 1. Motor Vehicles

• Driving or parking on grass areas or trails
• Parking at any place where official signs prohibit parking
• Washing, greasing, lubricating, or repairing
• Landing any aircraft for any non-emergency purpose
• Operating any motorized conveyance including but not limited to snowmobiles, motor boats, all-terrain vehicles, motorcycles, or motor scooters except that street licensed vehicles may be used in parking lots, or roads open to traffic.

Section 2. Shrubs, flowers, trees, fungi, grass, turf, soil, rock formations, minerals or other natural and cultural resources

• Picking, cutting, breaking, digging, defacing, injuring or removing
• Unauthorized plantings

Section 3. Buildings, Structures, or Park Facilities

• Damaging, defacing, or misusing in any way

Section 4. Waste Paper, Garbage, and Refuse

• Scattering or depositing except in appropriate receptacles
• Failing to clean up and place all picnic waste paper, garbage, and refuse in receptacles provided for that purpose
• Depositing in park receptacles waste paper, garbage or refuse except for that generated in the park by normal or permitted park activities such as picnicking

Section 5. Animals, Birds and Fish

• Except as specifically authorized by the Parks Department: molesting, trapping, hunting, capturing, killing or injuring any bird or mammal
• Abandoning animals or birds within the county parks

Section 6. Lakes, Streams, and Fountains

• Wading, swimming or diving
• Discharging of any types of waste or toxic materials into, or otherwise contaminating, any lake, stream, or fountain

Section 7. Advertising

• Posting or distributing any notice signs, advertisements, or handbills, including political signs or notices in areas other than buildings and groves where a permit has been issued
• Posting regarding permitted park activities may be authorized by the Parks Department or by permit, and must be removed by sunset of each day

Section 8. Weapons and Explosives

• Discharge of any firearm or weapon including and not limited to handguns, rifles, shotguns, crossbow, bow and arrow, air rifle or pistol, any device firing a projectile by compressed gas or spring, such as paintball devices or as otherwise specifically allowed by permit issued by the Parks Department
• Brandishing of a firearm or weapon including but not limited to handguns, rifles, shotguns, crossbow, bow and arrow, air riffle or pistol, any devise firing a projectile by compressed gas or spring, such as paintball devices except as otherwise specifically allowed by permit issued by the Parks Department. Firearms may be transported through the Park if kept in a car trunk, enclosed in a case, or otherwise inaccessible to use. Nothing contained herein shall prohibit any person licensed under the Pennsylvania Uniform Firearms Act from possession of a firearm as defined in the Pennsylvania Uniform Firearms Act.
• Possessing, discharging or causing to be discharged a firework, explosive, torpedo, rocket or other pyrotechnic material.

Section 9. Merchandising

• Offering, distributing, supplying, renting, or selling any literature, commodity, article, material, equipment, service or supply, except by those doing so pursuant to Article II, Sections 4 and 5 of these regulations

Section 10. Noise

• Using electrical amplifying equipment

Section 11. Alcoholic Beverages

• All alcoholic beverages in glass containers
• Possession of an alcoholic beverage in an open container or consumption of alcoholic beverages in areas other than buildings or groves where a permit has been issued.

Section 12. Bottled Beverages

• All glass containers

Section 13. Balloons and Sky Lanterns

• Release of balloons or sky lanterns
• Balloons including helium-filled balloons, latex or water balloons.

Article II - Regulated Activities

The below-listed activities are permitted in any area lying within a county park but are subject to the regulations indicated herein and those conspicuously posted in the appropriate area.

Section 1. Recreational Activities

• Picnicking, swimming, tennis, golf, skating, bicycling, skiing, sledding, baseball, softball, basketball, soccer, football, boating, fishing, horseback riding, horseshoe pitching, model powered aircraft flying, rollerblading, skate boarding and related and similar forms of recreation are permitted only in areas designed for such use and in no case shall such use be permitted in areas where park facilities or areas may be damaged

Section 2. Fires

• Fires are permitted only in stoves, fireplaces, grills or similar designated areas and facilities and must be thoroughly extinguished before leaving the area
• Matches, cigars, cigarettes, charcoal, and all flammable materials must be thoroughly extinguished before being disposed of
• Smoking shall be prohibited in any area of the park designated by the Director of the Allegheny Parks Department and containing signage clearly delineating the extent of the prohibition. Regardless of the existence or extent of any such designations by the Director, smoking shall in all instances be prohibited, within 25 feet of any designated playground area or portion thereof. For the purposes of this subsection, distances shall be measured in a straight line from any individual who is smoking to the playground paving, apron, rubberized fall material or piece of recreational equipment nearest to that individual.
• For the purposes of this subsection a "designated playground area" shall mean specific area meeting any of the following characteristics:
  • An area having a rubberized attenuation material located on its surface or floor; or
  • An area designated as a playground, skate park or splash park by official County signage; or
  • A site containing one or more pieces of recreational equipment specifically designed for use by children, including but not limited to swing sets, sliding boards, waterfalls or sprinklers, physical features or other objects specifically designed or placed for use as part of a skate park, and exercise bars.

Section 3. Animals

• Domestic animals are permitted only when on a leash, except in designated off-leash dog areas
• Horses are permitted only on designated horse trails and roads
• Feeding of wildlife and exhibit animals is prohibited

Section 4. Sale of food and refreshments

• Food and refreshments may be sold only by concessionaires approved by the Parks Department, and may only be sold pursuant to the provisions of their respective concession agreements
• If food and refreshment concessionaires are unwilling to provide such service at special events, the holders of the appropriate permits may provide refreshments to the public subject to approval and conditions imposed by the Director of the Parks Department

Section 5. Charging for admission for permit areas and buildings

• The holders of permits for special-use areas who are engaged in a non-profit making enterprise may charge the public for admission to an event. Such a charge is subject to the approval of the Parks' Director at least one week prior to the date of the permit

Section 6. Public Gatherings

• Meetings, assemblies, parades, or related forms of public gatherings will be permitted upon possession and presentation of a written authorization signed by the Director of the Parks Department

Section 7. Use of Permit Facilities

• Permits are required to reserve buildings, shelters, groves, athletic fields, and other facilities

Section 8. Fishing

• Fishing, as regulated by the Pennsylvania Fish Commission, is permitted between the hours of sunrise and midnight at designated areas within North Park and from 8:00 a.m. to sundown at designated areas within Deer Lakes Park.

Section 9. Park Hours

• North and South Parks: sunrise to midnight
• All other parks: 8:00 am until sundown

Section 10. Alcoholic Beverages

• Consumption of alcoholic beverages shall be limited to groves and buildings where a permit has been issued

Section 11. Camping

• Placing a tent, shelter, lean-to, sleeping bag, bedding material, or camping unit in an area without a valid camping permit for use of that area is prohibited.

Section 12. E-Bikes

• Allegheny County Department of Parks generally permits e-bikes on Allegheny County managed trails already open to human-powered bike usage. E-bikes will be treated by department staff equally to human-powered bikes, provided the ebikes:
  • Weigh no more than 100 pounds.
  • Do not exceed 20 mph using the motor functionality.
  • Are equipped with a motor no more than 750 watts.
  • Are equipped with fully functional, operable pedals.
  • Do not have a motor exclusively to move an e-bike without pedaling.

  Allegheny County Parks and Trails E-Bike Usage:
  E-bikes, as described above. are permitted on Allegheny County managed trails where bikes are allowed. E-bikes are prohibited where bikes are prohibited. On trails designated for non-motorized use, operators shall only use human power or pedal-assist power (electric assistance while pedaling) to operate e-bikes. Using the electric motor exclusively to move an e-bike without pedaling is prohibited on non-motorized trails. All operators shall always adhere to safe speeds and/or advised speed Limits along trails and e-bike operators shall never use the electric assistance to exceed 20 miles per hour. E-bikes that exceed weight, wattage. or other specifications identified in this policy are prohibited on Allegheny County Park trails.

  Public-Use Roads
  All e-bikes are generally permitted on public-use roads within Allegheny County Parks unless otherwise marked as prohibited. Operators shall abide by the Vehicle Code. local traffic laws. and Allegheny County Park regulations. It is the responsibility of the operator/rider to know which roads permit e-bikes use, as well as the rules and regulations that apply to the specific vehicle in use. All e-bikes operators shall adhere to regulated speed limits. According to Pennsylvania's Vehicle Code (75 Pa. C.S. § 3514), no person under the age of 16 shall operate an e-bike on state and local highways per the Vehicle Code.

Article III - Penalties

Section 1.

Any person who violates or fails to comply with the above subsections, Prohibited Activities, and Regulated Activities in the parks, shall receive a citation in accordance with the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure and upon conviction shall be guilty of a summary offense, and shall be subject to a fine of not less than $100, nor more than $300, plus costs equivalent to the costs for summary offenses.

Section 2.

Should a holder of a permit issued by the Director of the Parks Department under the provisions of these regulations be convicted of violating any provision of this Ordinance, such conviction shall be cause for revocation of any current permits. The Director of the Parks Department may, at their discretion, also consider such convictions when evaluating applications for future permits.

Section 3.

Each violation hereunder shall constitute a separate offense, subject to the penalties provided in Sections 1 and 2 of this Article.

Section 4.

All costs incurred as a result of a violation of parks rules and regulations or facility permit regulations, in addition to a 10% administrative cost, will be invoiced to the permit holder.

Article IV - Effective Date

Section 1.

This Ordinance is effective as of March 27, 2006.

Section 2.

If any provision of this Ordinance shall be determined to be unlawful, invalid, void or unenforceable, then that provision shall be considered severable from the remaining provisions of this Ordinance which shall be in full force and effects.

Section 3.

Any Resolution or Ordinance or part thereof conflicting with the provisions of this Ordinance is hereby repealed so far as the same affects this Ordinance.