Permits & Reserving Park Spaces
Office of Special Events permits reservations at some day-use picnic areas, facilities, campsites, and commercial filming or photography.
Do I Need a Permit?
Gathering of friends/family without advertisement to the public and that does NOT include any commercial activity, amplified sound, food sales, alcohol, advertising, marketing or similar. Park Rules, applicable local laws, and health orders must be followed.
ALLOWED WITHOUT A PERMIT:
- Potluck style food
- Use of general park areas in a shared manner
- Non-alcoholic beverages
Two 10x10 shade canopies
Any amplified sound, including small speakers, requires a Sound Permit
A permit is required for all other types of gathering or park uses. A list of common topic items is provided below for additional guidance for items that require a permit. Need more information? Email reservations@austintexas.gov.
REQUIRES A PERMIT:
- Amplified Sound
- Food sales, or public food service
- May not use a reservation or reserved site
- Alcohol consumption (alcohol sales require additional permits)
- Rental tents NOT allowed
- Bounce houses/water slides, etc.
- Vending, sales or commercial activity/advertising
- Fees, ticketing or charging for activities.
Certain special events require specialized permits and permissions. Please review the following sections to see if your special event will require additional permits:
Music and/or amplified sound may be considered and permitted with an approved site rental. Small private events may apply for a sound permit but must follow park rules.
Consumption may be permitted with an approved site rental. Alcohol sales require additional resources and event requirements.
Cookouts may be permitted at designated rental sites. Public cookouts may require items such as health permits, insurance and a $100 cookout event damage deposit in addition to other site rental or other permit fees.
Public cookouts without alcohol, see the Park Event Permit section for requirements and submit a Special Request Form
Crawfish boils may ONLY occur at designated picnic rental sites and require an additional $100 damage deposit above any other site rental or other permit fees. Crawfish Boil Regulations (PDF)
Public cookouts without alcohol, see the Park Event Permit section and submit a Special Request Form
Commercial or brand activation requires a permit as part of a park site rental, or with written permission of an event organizer.
Permits are considered for activations that will ENHANCE a park or recreational purpose. General commercial advertising, marketing, product launches or similar are NOT general public recreational purposes and are prohibited. It is a $100-$500 fine, $250 minimum fine during a special event, Class C Misdemeanor.
- Activations are NOT allowed near or inside pools, on or near the hike/bike trail, boardwalk, or on the Pfluger Bridge.
- With a permit, they must occur in designated areas such as picnic rental sites, or event buildings.
Food, merchandise or product sampling may only occur in a park at an approved festival/event, rental or concession permit. Ad hoc or sampling/marketing is not allowed. Product sampling may NOT occur with fitness trainer permits.
Stand alone food sales or concessions in a park are NOT allowed. This includes food product sampling.
Sampling will NOT be considered on the hike/bike trail, Pfluger Bridge or at/near most popular parks and pools.
A fundraiser is considered a public event.
For public events without alcohol, submit a Special Request Form
For public events with alcohol, structures, food sales/consumption by the public see the Event Planning Guide
With a permit, events may use a park as a start/stop site for a walk or run that also has permit for use of the sidewalks/streets for the walking part of the activity. Regardless of size - fun walks, runs may NOT be conducted on park land or any part of the hike/bike trail system.
Permitted in the specific case where the OWNER of an object is attempting to recover a lost item of value. Metal Detecting Permit may be issued to searches for an item lost in extenuating circumstances.
General interest metal detecting is NOT permitted.
Moonwalks/Bounce Houses are NOT allowed for day-to-day use rentals, picnic sites or similar.
Water attractions are prohibited.
Permitted ONLY at large festivals with an approved site rental where conditions/space can accommodate the device, and required insurance is provided.
Clowns, balloon artists, non-amplified busking or similar require single day permits. Performing Artist Temporary Concession Application
Permits are only issued for activities that include non-hazardous materials.
Petting Zoos are prohibited in all parks.
Filming inquiries on parkland may be submitted at film@austintexas.gov. All ad or branding campaign photo shoots must complete a Filming Permit Application.
Photo session permits are required for posed, portrait, or commercial photography at
- Auditorium Shores
- Mayfield Park
- Mt. Bonnell at Cover Park
- Zilker Metropolitan Park
- Zilker Botanical Garden - book and pay at the garden website directly
$50 per 2 hour session - book online 4 days or up to 30 days prior. Please note that sessions are NOT permitted during special events or holidays
Find a Picnic Shelter or Picnic Area
Reserve a Facility or Building
Search reservable facilities and check availability.
Located at 2100 Jesse E. Segovia Street, this facility is excellent for small festivals and private events hosting 200 people or less.
Located in historic Hyde Park at 3701 Grooms Street, this facility is perfect for small gatherings hosting a maximum of 30 people. Parking is extremely limited and no amplified sound is allowed.
BUILDING UNAVAILABLE FOR RENTAL DURING RENOVATION. Located at 200 Arnulfo Alonso Way, this New Deal-era building provides sweeping views of the Austin skyline and Ladybird Lake for gatherings of 100 people or less. Construction will occur at the site through at least the end of August 2027.
Search reservable facilities and check availability.
Located at 2100 Jesse E. Segovia Street, this facility is excellent for small festivals and private events hosting 200 people or less.
Located in historic Hyde Park at 3701 Grooms Street, this facility is perfect for small gatherings hosting a maximum of 30 people. Parking is extremely limited and no amplified sound is allowed.
BUILDING UNAVAILABLE FOR RENTAL DURING RENOVATION. Located at 200 Arnulfo Alonso Way, this New Deal-era building provides sweeping views of the Austin skyline and Ladybird Lake for gatherings of 100 people or less. Construction will occur at the site through at least the end of August 2027.
View facility locations and photographs.
Located at 3801 Old Bull Creek Road, this historic garden location is ideal for small private events hosting no more than 45 people inside the cottage, or 100 persons maximum in the garden area. No music is allowed at this site. Email MayfieldRentals@austintexas.gov to check availability.
Located in Pease Park, this whimsical 1920's cottage was restored in 2021. Perfect for small receptions, work functions, and intimate life celebrations with a 20 person in-cottage capacity or 120 with cottage and terrace.
Located in the heart of Zilker Park, the Zilker Lodge is comprised of over 21,000 square feet of newly constructed indoor and outdoor event space. The Activity Room is perfect for receptions, meetings, or casual meals for 80-100 persons. The Great Room is best utilized for parties, meals, gatherings and work social events and includes a fireplace, comfortable seating, billiards and foosball.
What will be the impact of your event?
Public Event on Park Property
Different types of events will require different permits and levels of coordination. Public events on parkland without alcohol sales, structures, or large tents may be requested via a Special Request Form Application (PDF).
Check out APR Park Event Sites & Partner Sites to learn more about park venue options.
Is your event going to need permits for alcohol sales, structures/stages, or large tents? You may need an Austin Center for Events (ACE) permit. Check out the ACE Special Event Planning Wizard to see if your event applies.
Emma Long Metro Park Passes & Campsite Reservations
Enjoy access to Lake Austin and amenities at Emma Long Metropolitan Park.
Park Entry Single Day Passes are available online up to 14 days in advance.
Interested in a Multi-Entry Pass? Multi-entry passes are valid for 20 entries to the park within the existing calendar year.
Camping Reservations are available at several full utility RV sites and primitive tent campsites.
Interested in becoming a Temporary Concessions Permit Holder?
Temporary Concession Application InformationInterested in Commercial Use on Parkland?
Commercial Use Permit Application Information