IN GENERAL.

Dallas City Code ch. 32, art. I

in effect

Dallas City Code § 32-1 SAFETY OF PATRONS GENERALLY; LIMITATION OF ACTIVITIES BY PERMIT.

SEC. 32-1. SAFETY OF PATRONS GENERALLY; LIMITATION OF ACTIVITIES BY PERMIT. It shall be unlawful for any individual or group of individuals to participate in any activity on any public park area when such activity will create a danger to the public or may be considered a public nuisance. The park board may designate particular locations within park areas for specific activities and when deemed necessary, it may limit the conduct of such activities by the issuance of special permits upon application, which permits will set out the particular conditions under which such activity is permitted. Overnight camping is prohibited on any park property except by special permit issued by the park board or its representatives for such activity on specific occasions. (Ord. 8019)

Dallas City Code § 32-2 SPEED LIMIT; DRIVING UPON WALKS.

SEC. 32-2. SPEED LIMIT; DRIVING UPON WALKS. It shall be unlawful for any person to ride, drive or go at a rate of speed faster than speed limits as posted on standard traffic signs, upon horseback, or upon any bicycle, motorcycle, or any other vehicle whatsoever, upon any drive or street in any park of the city, or to ride or drive any wheel or animal upon any walk in such park, or to climb any tree, fence or building. (Ord. 8019)

Dallas City Code § 32-3 INJURY TO TREES, SHRUBS, FENCES, ETC.

SEC. 32-3. INJURY TO TREES, SHRUBS, FENCES, ETC. It shall be unlawful for any person to cut, break, deface or in any way injure the trees, shrubs, plants, grass, turf, fountains, seats, fences, structures, improvements, ornaments or monuments or property, within or upon any of the public parks. (Ord. 8019)

Dallas City Code § 32-4 ABUSIVE, OBSCENE, ETC., LANGUAGE OR ACTS.

SEC. 32-4. ABUSIVE, OBSCENE, ETC., LANGUAGE OR ACTS. No person shall use or speak any threatening, abusive, insulting or indecent language in any of the public parks, and no person shall commit, in any such parks any obscene, lewd or indecent act or create any nuisance. (Ord. 8019)

Dallas City Code § 32-5 USE OF COMMERCIAL VEHICLES, ETC.

SEC. 32-5. USE OF COMMERCIAL VEHICLES, ETC. All vehicles used for the purpose of transporting freight and merchandise, or brick, stone or gravel, and all those commonly known as floats, moving wagons, express or delivery wagons are prohibited from entering upon or being driven through any of the public parks of the city. (Ord. 8019)

Dallas City Code § 32-6 DOGS AT LARGE.

SEC. 32-6. DOGS AT LARGE. (a) An owner, harborer, or person having the care, custody, or control of a dog commits an offense if he causes or permits the dog to go into or upon the grounds of any public park within the city, unless the dog is led by some person and retained in custody by a leash. (b) It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (a) that the dog was in an off-leash site established under Section 32-6.1 of this chapter. (Ord. Nos. 8019; 24482)

Dallas City Code § 32-6.1 OFF-LEASH SITES FOR DOGS.

SEC. 32-6.1. OFF-LEASH SITES FOR DOGS. (a) In this section: (1) OFF-LEASH SITE means an enclosed area designated by the park board in which dogs are allowed to run at large without being secured by a leash or other restraint. (2) DANGEROUS DOG has the meaning given that term in Section 822.041 of the Texas Health and Safety Code, as amended. (b) The park board is authorized to establish off- leash sites for dogs within designated areas of the city’s parks and recreational areas. Signs designating an area as an off-leash site must be conspicuously posted at each entrance to the site. (c) The park board may promulgate regulations, not inconsistent with this section, that govern off-leash sites for dogs. Such regulations must be conspicuously posted at each entrance to an off-leash site. The regulations must include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) No person may bring into an off-leash site: (A) a dangerous dog; (B) a female dog in heat; (C) more than three dogs at one time; or (D) a dog that is not wearing tags showing that it is currently registered and vaccinated in compliance with Chapter 7 of this code. (2) Any person who brings a dog into an off- leash site shall: (A) carry materials and implements for removing and disposing of dog excreta and remove all excreta deposited by the dog in the off-leash site, in compliance with Section 7-21.2 of this code; (B) lead the dog on a leash and retain the dog in custody when entering and exiting an off-leash site; (C) keep the dog under visual and voice control at all times while in the off-leash site; (D) fill any hole that the dog digs in the off-leash site; and (E) remove the dog from the off-leash site at the first sign of aggression by the dog. (3) Any person who brings a child under 12 years of age into an off-leash site shall keep the child under strict supervision. (d) A person commits an offense, punishable by a fine of up to $2,000, if he fails to comply with any regulation: (1) set forth in Subsection (c) of this section; or (2) promulgated by the park board pursuant to Subsection (c) and posted at the off-leash site. (e) Use of an off-leash site by any dog constitutes: (1) implied consent of the owner, harborer, or person having care, custody, or control of the dog to comply with all conditions and regulations stated in this section or promulgated by the park board and posted at the off-leash site; and (2) a waiver of liability to the city by the owner, harborer, or person having care, custody, or control of the dog, and an agreement and undertaking to protect, indemnify, defend, and hold the city harmless, for any injury or damage caused by the dog during any time that the dog is in the off-leash site. (Ord. 24482)

Dallas City Code § 32-7 PROTECTION OF FISH, ANIMALS, AND FOWL.

SEC. 32-7. PROTECTION OF FISH, ANIMALS, AND FOWL. Wherever the city owns or keeps any fish, animals or fowl on public exhibition in any of the public parks or grounds of the city, it shall be unlawful for any person in any manner to injure, annoy or interfere with any such animal, fish or fowl, or to injure or interfere with, in any manner, any of the enclosures in which any animal, fish or fowl may be kept. The term “annoy” or “interfere with” shall include any attempt on the part of the person, save and except the duly authorized keeper thereof, or person in charge thereof, to feed or offer any foodstuff or other substance to any such animal, fish or fowl. Whenever any fish, fowl or animals are kept on exhibition, it shall be the duty of the public to obey all rules provided by the park board or other authority for the exhibition of any such animal, fish or fowl. (Ord. 8019)

Dallas City Code § 32-8 DRIVING AND PARKING OF VEHICLES.

SEC. 32-8. DRIVING AND PARKING OF VEHICLES. (a) A person commits an offense if, in any park or recreation area in the city, he knowingly: (1) drives a motor vehicle; or (2) stops, stands, or parks a motor vehicle; or (3) parks a motor vehicle so as to obstruct entrance to or exit from a roadway, parking area, or trail established for public motor vehicle use; or (4) fails to park the entire motor vehicle within the limit lines of a designated parking stall, where such lines have been provided. (b) It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (a) that the driving, stopping, standing, or parking: (1) was along a roadway, trail, or parking area established for public motor vehicle use; (2) was due to temporary mechanical failure of the vehicle; (3) was ordered by a police or park officer of the city or a person charged with supervision of a park or recreation area within the city; or (4) was performed by an employee of the city while in the course of his official duties. (c) If a motor vehicle is parked or left in violation of this section and the owner or operator of the vehicle cannot be found, police or park officers of the city may remove or impound the vehicle, or the vehicle may be removed in accordance with Chapter 28 of this code. (d) The park board is authorized to establish time limits for the parking of motor vehicles within designated parking areas of the city’s parks and recreational areas. (Ord. Nos. 8019; 16503)

Dallas City Code § 32-9 SCHEDULES FOR OPERATING FACILITIES.

SEC. 32-9. SCHEDULES FOR OPERATING FACILITIES. Whenever, in the opinion of the park board it is desirable or necessary to establish operating hours during which buildings, structures, facilities, athletic areas or other improvements on park areas shall be operated, the park board is authorized to establish such hours of operation by resolution and when such hours so designated are posted on the entrances to such buildings, facilities, etc., the same shall be deemed as the official hours of operation. (Ord. 8019)

Dallas City Code § 32-9.1 HOURS OF CLOSURE FOR PUBLIC PARKS AND PARK AMENITIES.

SEC. 32-9.1. HOURS OF CLOSURE FOR PUBLIC PARKS AND PARK AMENITIES. (a) Except as provided in Subsection (b), all public parks and park amenities are closed to the public each day from 11:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m. (b) Park amenities for which the park board has established and posted the hours of operation under Section 32-9 of this chapter are closed to the public at any time other than the established and posted hours of operation. (c) A person commits an offense if he is on the premises of a public park or park amenity during hours in which the park or park amenity is closed. (d) It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (c) that the person was: (1) driving a vehicle on an interior park roadway that provides direct access to the person’s residence; (2) attending a special event, activity, or program that was being conducted in a public park or park amenity during hours of closure with written permission of the park board, the director of park and recreation, or a designated representative; or (3) entering or leaving, or engaged in legal boating on or fishing from the bank or water surface of, any of the following: (A) Lake Ray Hubbard; (B) Mountain Creek Lake; (C) White Rock Lake; (D) Lemmon Lake; (E) Blue Lake; (F) a body of water located within the Trinity River Greenbelt; (G) that part of Joe Pool Lake within the city’s jurisdiction; or (H) Bachman Lake. (e) For the purpose of this section: (1) PARK AMENITY means any building, structure, facility, athletic area, or other improvement that is located within a public park. (2) PUBLIC PARK means land owned or managed by the city, whether located inside or outside the city limits, that is planned, developed, or used for active or passive recreational use by the public. “Public park” includes an interior park roadway, other than a dedicated street, and excludes any sidewalk adjacent to the outside perimeter of a park. (Ord. Nos. 20680; 20964; 22073; 22404; 22851; 27993)

Dallas City Code § 32-10 SALE OF SERVICES OR GOODS ON PARK PROPERTY.

SEC. 32-10. SALE OF SERVICES OR GOODS ON PARK PROPERTY. (a) A person commits an offense if the person sells, distributes, or offers for sale any services or goods, including but not limited to food, drinks, confections, or merchandise, in a city park or another area under the control of the park and recreation board. (b) It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (a) of this section that the person: (1) was selling, distributing, or offering for sale the services or goods by authority of a written contract or permit with the city, through the park and recreation department, to operate a concession in that area; (2) was selling, distributing, or offering for sale the services or goods in connection with the transaction of official government business; (3) was selling, distributing, or offering for sale only an item or items containing primarily noncommercial speech, including but not limited to newspapers, books, magazines, audio and video compact discs (CDs), or digital versatile discs (DVDs), and the selling, distributing, or offering for sale was not being conducted: (A) from a machine; (B) at a time when the area was closed to the public; (C) in an area used for storage; (D) in an area under the control or management of another person or private entity pursuant to a written agreement with the city; (E) inside any building, including but not limited to a recreational center; (F) in a parking lot that serves a city park or another area under the control of the park and recreation board; or (G) in a way that obstructed a public street or sidewalk; (4) was selling, distributing, or offering for sale only periodicals from a coin-operated machine by authority of a license to operate the machine in that area, unless such sale, distribution, or offering for sale was prohibited in the area by another city ordinance or a city contract; (5) was selling or offering for sale the services of a vehicle for hire that was being operated by that person; (6) did not receive remuneration from the person being given the services or goods; did not use any type of vehicle or stand, any part of which touched the ground, when distributing the services or goods; and did not interfere with traffic flow on a public street or sidewalk when distributing the services or goods; or (7) was selling, distributing, offering for sale, or delivering the services or goods to a person qualifying for any defense described in Paragraphs (1) through (6) of this subsection. (c) In addition to any enforcement action by a peace officer or the director of the park and recreation department, or an authorized representative, for a violation of this section, any person who is a victim of an act prohibited under this section, or who witnesses a violation of this section, may file a complaint with the city attorney. Evidence to support a conviction for a violation of this section may include, but is not limited to, testimony of witnesses, videotape evidence of the violation, and other admissible evidence. (d) This section does not apply to the occasional sale of lemonade or other nonalcoholic beverages from a stand in a public park by an individual younger than 18 years of age. (Ord. Nos. 8019; 28241; 31375)

Dallas City Code § 32-11 PROMULGATION AND POSTING OF RULES AND REGULATIONS.

SEC. 32-11. PROMULGATION AND POSTING OF RULES AND REGULATIONS. The park board shall adopt such rules and regulations as it deems best for the management of the public parks and where such rules have been adopted for a specific park area and posted within the specific park so regulated, any person found guilty of violating such rules is guilty of an offense. (Ord. Nos. 8019; 19963)

Dallas City Code § 32-11.1 PUBLIC SHOOTING RANGES.

SEC. 32-11.1. PUBLIC SHOOTING RANGES. Public shooting ranges may be constructed and operated in parks owned by the city in accordance with the following provisions: (a) Such public shooting ranges shall at all times be subject to the control of the park board and shall be in accordance with the rules and regulations adopted and promulgated by the park board. (b) It shall be unlawful for any person to have in his possession or to consume or be under the influence of any intoxicating beverage while on any such public shooting range. (c) It shall be unlawful for any person to shoot any type of weapon named in Section 31-11 on such a public shooting range, unless such range is open for the purpose of shooting and under the immediate supervision of qualified personnel present on such range. (d) In event any such public shooting range is leased to a private operator, such lease agreement shall contain a provision whereby the concessionaire shall agree to save and hold the city and its park board whole and harmless from any and all claims of every character whatsoever that may be made against it by reason of the maintenance and operations of such concession, and such concessionaire shall at the time of the execution of this contract, furnish a public liability or indemnity policy of insurance for the benefit of the city and its park board and concessionaire herein jointly, and the certificate of his public liability insurance, with insurance coverage, shall not be less than $250,000 per person, $500,000 per accident and $50,000 property damage, and the certificate shall include the city and the park board among the insured. (Ord. 10921)

Dallas City Code § 32-11.2 HANG-GLIDERS, PARA-SAILS, PARA-KITES, PARACHUTES, AND SIMILAR DEVICES PROHIBITED; DEFENSE.

SEC. 32-11.2. HANG-GLIDERS, PARA-SAILS, PARA-KITES, PARACHUTES, AND SIMILAR DEVICES PROHIBITED; DEFENSE. (a) A person commits an offense if, within or above any park or recreation area under the management responsibility of the park board, he operates a hang-glider, para-sail, para-kite, parachute, or similar device capable of supporting the weight of a person above ground or water level. (b) It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (a) that the person has obtained written permission from the park board, or a designated representative, authorizing a special event. (Ord. 18745)

Dallas City Code § 32-11.3 POSSESSION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES IN PARKS.

SEC. 32-11.3. POSSESSION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES IN PARKS. (a) A person commits an offense if he consumes or possesses an alcoholic beverage: (1) while in a public park; or (2) while on a public street, sidewalk, or parking area adjacent to a public park. (b) It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (a) that: (1) the person was on the premises of: (A) Fair Park; (B) Old City Park; (C) Reunion Park; (D) the DeGolyer Estate, Camp Estate, or other area of the Arboretum designated by the park and recreation board for the possession and consumption of an alcoholic beverage; (E) Betty Marcus Park, when attending a city-approved activity at the Meyerson Concert Hall; (F) an area in Samuel Farm designated by the park and recreation board for the possession and consumption of an alcoholic beverage; (G) the following park facilities, when pursuant to written permission of the director of the park and recreation department and in compliance with park facility reservation policies established by the park and recreation board: (i) Arlington Hall; (ii) Sunset Bay; (iii) Winfrey Point; or (iv) Big Thickett; (H) a municipal golf course; (I) a park facility or other park property or part of a park property for which: (i) a valid license issued by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission existed; or (ii) a lease or rental agreement had been granted by the city that allowed the possession and consumption of an alcoholic beverage; or (J) the Prism Center; (2) the person was on the waters of a lake or water reservoir under the jurisdiction of the park and recreation board where the private launching and mooring of boats was permitted; (3) the person was on premises where a special event, activity, or program was being conducted with written permission of the park and recreation board and the director of the park and recreation department and possession and consumption of an alcoholic beverage was allowed under the terms of the permission; or (4) the container of alcoholic beverage possessed by the person had an unbroken seal or other evidence of having never been opened. (c) For the purpose of this section, ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE is used as defined in the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code. (Ord. Nos. 16881; 20336; 20699; 20963; 22850; 33105)

Dallas City Code § 32-11.4 NOISES INTERFERING WITH ENJOYMENT OF PUBLIC PARK AND RECREATION AREAS.

SEC. 32-11.4. NOISES INTERFERING WITH ENJOYMENT OF PUBLIC PARK AND RECREATION AREAS. (a) A person commits an offense if he knowingly makes or causes to be made any loud and raucous noise in any public park and recreation area in the city. (b) It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (a) that the person: (1) is a city employee acting within the scope of his official duties; or (2) first obtained the written permission of the director of the park and recreation department of the city authorizing a special event. (c) The following enumerated acts are presumed to create loud and raucous noises for purposes of this section: (1) The sounding of any horn or signal device on any automobile, motorcycle, bus, or other vehicle, except as a danger signal, as required by state law. (2) The use of any mechanical loudspeaker or sound amplifier for the purpose of attracting the attention of other persons by the creation of noise. (3) The playing of any radio, television, tape machine, musical instrument, or other machine or device for the production or reproduction of sound at such a volume that the sound produced is audible at a distance in excess of 150 feet. (4) The operation of any automobile, motorcycle, bus, or other vehicle or mechanical device in such a manner so as to produce a sound that is audible at a distance in excess of 150 feet. (Ord. 17090)

Source: City of Dallas, Dallas City Code and City Charter (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/dallas/latest/dallas_tx/0-0-0-115005Fetched: 10/26/2026