CONDUCT IN PUBLIC PARKS

Charlotte City Code ch. 15, art. VI

in effect

Charlotte City Code § 15-131 Definitions.

Sec. 15-131. - Definitions. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning: Department means the city engineering and property management department. Director means the key business executive of the engineering and property management department or his designee. Park means a park, reservation, playground, or any other area or structure in the city owned, leased, or used by the city and devoted to active or passive recreation, including property owned by others and devoted to park purposes under the jurisdiction of the department, including, without limitation, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education. Vehicle means any wheeled conveyance, whether motor-powered, animal-drawn, or self-propelled, except wheelchairs and similar vehicles, baby carriages and vehicles in the service of the city parks. (Code 1985, § 15-136)

Charlotte City Code § 15-132 Park property.

Sec. 15-132. - Park property. (a) Buildings and other property. No person in a park shall: (1) Wilfully mark, deface, disfigure, adulterate, injure, tamper with, or displace or remove any buildings; bridges; tables; benches; fireplaces; railings; fountains, ponds or other bodies of water; paving or paving material; water lines or other public utilities or parts or appurtenances thereof; fences; signs, notices or placards, whether temporary or permanent; receptacles; monuments; stakes, posts, or other boundary markers; or other structures, improvements or equipment, facilities or park property or appurtenances whatsoever, either real or personal. (2) Force entry into any restroom or washroom that is locked or bolted; and no person over the age of five years shall use any restroom, washroom, or locker room designated for the opposite sex. (3) Dig or remove any soil, rock or stones, except in areas designated for that purpose, or any trees, shrubs, plants, plantings, grass, down-timber or other wood or materials; or make any excavation by tool, equipment, blasting, or other means or agency. (4) Construct or erect any building or structure of whatever kind, whether permanent or temporary in character, or run or string any public service utility into, upon or across such lands, except on special written permit issued under this article. (b) Trees, shrubbery, lawns. No person in a park shall: (1) Damage, cut, carve, transplant or remove any tree or plant or injure the bark or pick the flowers or seeds of any tree or plant; attach any rope, wire, or other contrivance to any tree or plant; or tie or hitch an animal to any tree or plant. (2) Climb, stand or sit upon monuments, vases, fountains, railings, fences, gun-carriages, trees or upon any other property not designated or customarily used for such purposes. (c) Wild animals, birds. No person in a park shall: (1) Hunt, molest, harm, frighten, kill, trap, chase, tease, shoot or throw missiles at any animal, reptile or bird; remove or possess the young of any wild animal or the eggs or nest or young of any reptile or bird; except that snakes known to be deadly poisonous, such as rattlesnakes, moccasins, coral snakes, or other deadly reptiles, may be killed on sight. (2) Give or offer or attempt to give to any animal or bird any tobacco, alcohol or other known noxious substances. (Code 1985, § 15-137)

Charlotte City Code § 15-133 Sanitation.

Sec. 15-133. - Sanitation. No person in a park shall: (1) Throw, discharge, or otherwise place or cause to be placed in the waters of any fountain, pond, or other body of water in or adjacent to any park or any tributary stream, storm sewer, or drain flowing into such waters any substance, matter or thing, liquid or solid, which will or may result in the pollution of such waters. (2) Dump, deposit or leave any bottles, broken glass, ashes, paper, boxes, cans, dirt, rubbish, waste, garbage or refuse, or other trash anywhere on the park grounds; except such matter may be placed in proper receptacles where provided. Where receptacles are not provided, all such rubbish or waste shall be carried away from the park by the person responsible for its presence and properly disposed of elsewhere. (Code 1985, § 15-138)

Charlotte City Code § 15-134 Traffic.

Sec. 15-134. - Traffic. No person in a park shall: (1) Fail to comply with all applicable sections of the motor vehicle traffic laws of the state and ordinances of the city in regard to equipment and operation of vehicles. (2) Fail to obey all police officers, such officers being hereby authorized and instructed to direct traffic whenever and wherever needed in the parks in accordance with this article and such supplementary regulations as may be issued subsequently by the director. (3) Fail to observe carefully all traffic signs indicating speed, direction, caution, stopping or parking, and all others posted for proper traffic control and to safeguard life and property. (4) Drive any vehicle on any area except the paved park roads or parking areas or such other areas as may on occasion be specifically designated as temporary parking areas by the director. (5) Park a vehicle in other than an established or designated parking area, and such use shall be in accordance with the posted directions and with the instructions of any police officer who may be present. (6) Operate any all-terrain vehicle, trail bike, go-cart or minibike at any location within any park other than such places, if any, as are specifically designated for such purpose by the department, except that regularly licensed vehicles and operators may have access to streets and roadways within parks to the same extent as public streets, subject to the traffic rules of this article. (7) Ride a bicycle on other than the righthand side of a paved vehicular road or path designated for that purpose or fail to keep in single file when two or more bicycles are operating as a group. A bicyclist shall be permitted to wheel or push a bicycle by hand over any grassy area or wooded trail or on any paved area reserved for pedestrian use. (8) Ride any other person over the age of six years on a single passenger bicycle in any park. (9) Leave a bicycle lying on the ground or paving or set against trees or in any place or position where other persons may trip over or be injured by it. (Code 1985, § 15-139)

Charlotte City Code § 15-135 Recreational activities.

Sec. 15-135. - Recreational activities. (a) Bathing, swimming, etc. No person in a park shall swim, bathe, wade or ice skate in or on any waters or waterways in or adjacent to any park. (b) Boating. No person in a park shall bring into or operate any boat, raft, or other watercraft, whether motor-powered or not, upon any waters. (c) Other activities. No person in a park shall: (1) Take part in or abet the playing of any games or activities involving thrown, or otherwise propelled, injurious objects such as balls, stones, arrows, javelins or model airplanes. The playing of rough or comparatively dangerous games such as football, baseball, golf and quoits is prohibited. Roller skating, roller blading and skateboarding are prohibited. (2) Ride a horse or other animal. (3) Participate in any activity for which an admission or fee is charged without having paid the full admission or fee so payable. (Code 1985, § 15-140)

Charlotte City Code § 15-136 Behavior.

Sec. 15-136. - Behavior. No person in a park shall: (1) a. Consume any malt beverage or unfortified wine, as defined in G.S. ch. 18B, except pursuant to a permit issued by the director or his designee in accordance with policies established by the director. b. Possess or consume any fortified wine or spirituous liquor, as defined in G.S. ch. 18B, except where such possession and consumption is specifically authorized by G.S. ch. 18B and by a permit issued by the director or his designee in accordance with policies established by the director. (2) Possess, use or consume any illegal drugs or be under the influence of any illegal drugs while in a park. (3) Build or attempt to build a fire, or throw or otherwise scatter lighted matches, burning cigarettes or cigars, tobacco paper or other flammable material, within any park area. (4) Enter an area posted as "closed to the public," nor shall any person use or abet the use of any area in violation of posted notices. (5) Lie or sleep in a prone position on seats, tables or benches. (6) Disturb or interfere with the activities of any other person occupying an area of a park with the intent to disrupt the activities of the other person. A violation of this section may be punishable as a Class 3 misdemeanor and be subject to a maximum fine not to exceed $500.00 pursuant to G.S. 160A-175 and G.S. 14-4. (Code 1985, § 15-141; Ord. No. 720, § 2, 2-12-2024)

Charlotte City Code § 15-137 Merchandising, advertising and signs.

Sec. 15-137. - Merchandising, advertising and signs. No person in a park shall: (1) Expose, offer for sale or advertise any article or service, except regularly licensed concessionaires acting by and under the authority and regulation of the director, and/or unless a permit for such has been issued by the director. (2) Paste, glue, tack or otherwise post any sign, placard, advertisement or inscription whatever, except as authorized by the director. (Code 1985, § 15-142)

Charlotte City Code § 15-138 Park operating policy.

Sec. 15-138. - Park operating policy. (a) Except for unusual and unforeseen emergencies as determined by the director, parks shall be open to the public every day of the year during designated hours. The opening and closing hours for each individual park shall be determined by the department and shall be posted therein for public information. (b) Any section or part of any park may be declared closed to the public by the director at any time and for any interval of time, either temporarily or at regular and stated intervals (daily or otherwise) and either entirely or merely to certain uses, as the director shall find reasonably necessary. (c) A permit shall be obtained from the director before participating in any park activity which the department shall from time to time designate as requiring such a permit. (1) A person seeking issuance of a permit under this subsection shall file an application with the director. The application shall state the following: a. The name and address of the applicant. b. The name and address of the person, corporation or association sponsoring the activity, if any. c. The day and hours for which the permit is desired. d. The park or portion thereof for which such permit is desired. e. An estimate of the anticipated attendance. f. Any other information which the director shall find reasonably necessary to a fair determination as to whether a permit should issue under this subsection. (2) The director shall issue a permit when he finds that: a. The proposed activity or use of the park will not unreasonably interfere with or detract from the general public enjoyment of the park. b. The proposed activity or use will not unreasonably interfere with or detract from the promotion of public health, welfare, safety and recreation. c. The proposed activity or use is not reasonably anticipated to incite violence, crime or disorderly conduct. d. The proposed activity or use will not entail unusual, extraordinary or burdensome expense or police operation by the city. e. The facilities desired have not been reserved for use at the date and hour required in the application. (3) Within 14 days after receipt of an application, the director shall advise an applicant in writing of his reasons for refusing a permit, and any aggrieved person shall have the right to appeal in writing within seven days, to the office of the city manager, which shall consider the application under the standards set forth in subsection (c)(2) of this section and sustain or overrule the director's decision, within seven days. The decision of the city manager or his designee shall be final. (4) A permittee shall be bound by all park rules and regulations and all applicable ordinances fully as though the rules and regulations were inserted in the permit. (5) The director shall have the authority to revoke a permit upon a finding of violation of any rule or ordinance or upon good cause shown. (6) The director shall establish a fee schedule for the use of park equipment and park facilities subject to the approval of the city manager or his designee. The fees shall be reviewed annually, and the city manager or his designee is authorized to make such adjustments in the fees as he deems appropriate. An accurate copy of the fee schedule shall be posted in a conspicuous place in the office of the department. (Code 1985, § 15-143)

Charlotte City Code § 15-139 Enforcement.

Sec. 15-139. - Enforcement. (a) Officers of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department shall enforce this article and shall have the authority to eject from any park any person acting in violation of this article or any section of this Code or any law of the state. (b) When there is a violation of any section of this article, the city, in its discretion, may take one or more of the following courses of action: (1) A penalty of $25.00 may be levied against any person who violates any section of this article. (2) The violator may be charged with a misdemeanor and be subject to any penalty prescribed by section 2-21. (3) The city may apply to the appropriate court for an injunction or any other allowable civil penalty. (Code 1985, § 15-144)

Source: City of Charlotte, Code of Ordinances and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/nc/charlotte/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH15OFMIPR_ARTVICOPUPAFetched: 10/27/2026