USE OF PARKS

Houston Code of Ordinances ch. 32, art. II

in effect

Houston Code of Ordinances § 32-25 Alcohol.

Sec. 32-25. - Alcohol. The director may promulgate rules and regulations as provided in section 32-5 of this Code relating to the possession or consumption of any alcoholic beverages while in the parks. Nothing in this section limits the director's authority to promulgate rules and regulations relating to the sale or distribution of alcoholic beverages by city-authorized vendors, park permittees, and concessionaires operating within the parks. (Ord. No. 2016-65, § 2(Exh. A), 1-20-2016)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 32-26 Playing of musical instruments.

Sec. 32-26. - Playing of musical instruments. Without the express written permission of the director, it shall be unlawful for any person to play any musical instrument or use any sound amplification equipment in violation of the applicable provisions of chapter 30 of this Code within the parks other than for his own enjoyment, provided that such person shall not thereby encroach upon the use and enjoyment of the parks by others. (Ord. No. 2016-65, § 2(Exh. A), 1-20-2016)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 32-27 Glass bottles and containers prohibited.

Sec. 32-27. - Glass bottles and containers prohibited. Without the express written permission of the director, it shall be unlawful for any person to bring into or upon the parks, or have in his possession while therein or thereupon any glass receptacle, including but not limited to, glass bottles, glass jars, drinking glasses and glass containers of any kind. This provision shall not apply to baby bottles, baby food jars, glass lined vacuum bottles and glass lined picnic beverage coolers. (Ord. No. 2016-65, § 2(Exh. A), 1-20-2016)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 32-28 Camping.

Sec. 32-28. - Camping. (a) For purposes of this article, the term camp or camping means the erection of a tent or the use of other materials, including but not limited to, sleeping bags, bedrolls, blankets, sheets, tarps, cardboard, or other materials, to provide sleeping quarters for temporary human habitation. (b) It shall be unlawful for any person to camp in any area of the parks. This section shall not apply to persons camping in areas designated for overnight camping pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated in accordance with section 32-5 of this Code. (Ord. No. 2016-65, § 2(Exh. A), 1-20-2016)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 32-29 Parking and driving vehicles.

Sec. 32-29. - Parking and driving vehicles. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to park any vehicle on park property except in areas designated for such purpose. (b) It shall be unlawful for any person to drive or propel any vehicle over or through the parks, except along or upon park roads or to drive or propel along or over any park road any heavily laden vehicle or vehicle carrying merchandise, goods, material or rubbish, or any moving van or truck. This section shall not apply to golf carts operated upon golf course cart paths or bikes and personal assistance mobility devices operated upon designated park roads authorized for such use by the director. For purposes of this subsection, personal assistance mobility device means any mobility device powered by batteries or fuel or other engine that is used by an individual with mobility impairment. (Ord. No. 2016-65, § 2(Exh. A), 1-20-2016)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 32-30 Riding or driving animals.

Sec. 32-30. - Riding or driving animals. It shall be unlawful for any person to ride or to drive any horse or other animal over or through the parks, except along and upon the designated bridle paths and driveways. (Ord. No. 2016-65, § 2(Exh. A), 1-20-2016)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 32-31 Injuring, etc., animals, fowl or fish.

Sec. 32-31. - Injuring, etc., animals, fowl or fish. It shall be unlawful for any person to tease, annoy, injure, catch, or throw any stone, object or missile of any kind at, or strike with any stick, object or weapon, any animal in the parks. (Ord. No. 2016-65, § 2(Exh. A), 1-20-2016)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 32-32 Erecting structures, bill posting, etc.

Sec. 32-32. - Erecting structures, bill posting, etc. It shall be unlawful for any person to place, erect, or attach any structure, sign, bulletin board, post, pole or advertising device of any kind whatever in the parks, or to attach any notice, bill, poster, sign, wire, rod or cord to any tree, shrub, fence, railing, post or structure in the parks unless authorized by rule or regulation promulgated pursuant to section 32-5 of this Code. (Ord. No. 2016-65, § 2(Exh. A), 1-20-2016)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 32-33 Walking, standing or sitting on borders, flower beds, etc.

Sec. 32-33. - Walking, standing or sitting on borders, flower beds, etc. It shall be unlawful for any person to walk, stand or sit on any border, flower bed, monument, vase, fountain, railing or fence in the parks. (Ord. No. 2016-65, § 2(Exh. A), 1-20-2016)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 32-34 Hunting and firearms.

Sec. 32-34. - Hunting and firearms. It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt any animal or shoot, fire, display, or discharge any air-gun, paint-ball gun, pistol, shotgun, rifle, or other firearm or archery arrow in, on, along or across the parks; provided however, the director may authorize hunting for wildlife management purposes in Lake Houston Wilderness Park during designated seasons and times according to state law and the regulations of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The provisions of this section shall not apply to designated target ranges and other areas of the parks approved for such use by the director. The provisions of this section are cumulative of all applicable state laws concerning the regulation of firearms by municipalities. (Ord. No. 2016-65, § 2(Exh. A), 1-20-2016)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 32-35 Fishing.

Sec. 32-35. - Fishing. It shall be unlawful for any person to catch fish within the parks. It shall be an affirmative defense to prosecution under this section that the actor is: (1) Fishing in an area of Lake Houston, Lake Houston Wilderness Park, Cullinan Park Oyster Creek, or Keith Weiss Park in which fishing is permitted under this Code; or (2) Twelve years of age or less or 65 years of age or more and is fishing in any body of water which has been designated for fishing by children and elderly persons by regulations promulgated by the director pursuant to section 32-5 of this Code. (Ord. No. 2016-65, § 2(Exh. A), 1-20-2016)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 32-36 Playing baseball, football, etc.

Sec. 32-36. - Playing baseball, football, etc. It shall be unlawful for any person to play any game of baseball, football, golf, cricket, lacrosse, polo, soccer, hockey or other game of like character in the parks, except at the places set apart and designated as grounds therefor. (Ord. No. 2016-65, § 2(Exh. A), 1-20-2016)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 32-37 Canoeing or boating on lakes.

Sec. 32-37. - Canoeing or boating on lakes. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to place any canoe, kayak, raft, boat, or vessel of any type or description upon the waters of any lake or pond upon the parks except Lake Houston. This section shall not apply to model or toy boats that are not designed or intended for human transportation or to any recreational project sponsored by the department and supervised by its employees or representatives or, in accordance with subsection (b), canoeing or kayaking in Cullinan Park, Lake Houston Wilderness Park, or Keith Wiess Park that is conducted in compliance with the director's rules and regulations. (b) The director may by rules and regulations adopted under section 32-5 of this Code authorize canoeing for individual and family pleasure in Cullinan Park, Lake Houston Wilderness Park, or Keith Wiess Park. Without limitation, the rules and regulations shall be intended to preserve the park as a place of beauty and peacefulness and shall not authorize motorized canoes or kayaks, canoe or kayak rentals, or concessions or competitive canoeing or kayaking activities. (Ord. No. 2016-65, § 2(Exh. A), 1-20-2016)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 32-38 Compliance with law is condition of use of parks and playgrounds.

Sec. 32-38. - Compliance with law is condition of use of parks and playgrounds. (a) Any person may use the parks for any lawful purpose; provided however, the use of the parks shall be subject to compliance with all applicable provisions of this Code and state and federal law. (b) The director, all other employees of the department, and members of the City of Houston Police Department are hereby individually and severally authorized and directed for and on behalf of the city to notify any person who fails or refuses to comply with any applicable provision of law or of departmental rules and regulations to depart from any city property or building under the control of the department. It shall be unlawful for any person who, upon receiving such notice, fails to depart from any such property or building. (Ord. No. 2016-65, § 2(Exh. A), 1-20-2016)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 32-39 Exemptions.

Sec. 32-39. - Exemptions. The provisions of this article shall not be construed to apply to workmen of the city and its agents and contractors in the lawful discharge of their respective duties. (Ord. No. 2016-65, § 2(Exh. A), 1-20-2016)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 32-40 Violations declared nuisance.

Sec. 32-40. - Violations declared nuisance. It shall be unlawful for any person to neglect or refuse to comply with any provision of this article. Additionally, any neglect or refusal to comply with any provision of this article shall be deemed a nuisance and may be abated in the manner provided by law and by the ordinances of the city for abatement of nuisances. (Ord. No. 2016-65, § 2(Exh. A), 1-20-2016)

Houston Code of Ordinances § 32-41 Park hours—Generally.

Sec. 32-41. - Park hours—Generally. (a) With the exception of overnight camping areas designated by the director, Parks and park facilities shall be open to members of the public between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. unless other public use or visitation hours have been posted for such park or park facility pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated in accordance with section 32-5 of this Code or permitted in writing by the director in accordance with article III of this chapter. (b) It shall be unlawful for any person to remain within any park or park facility outside the hours designated or permitted for its use who fails to leave immediately after being requested to do so. (c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the use of sidewalks, roadways, parkways, trails, streets, or esplanades for vehicular or pedestrian traffic outside of designated park hours unless such use is prohibited pursuant to section 26-91 of this Code. The director is authorized to designate interior sidewalks, roadways, parkways, trails, streets and esplanades that are dedicated for park use and serve park areas only. (Ord. No. 2016-65, § 2(Exh. A), 1-20-2016)

Source: City of Houston, Code of Ordinances and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/houston/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH32PARE_ARTIIUSPAFetched: 10/26/2026