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RESTRICTIONS ON PARK USE.

Austin City Code tit. 8, ch. 8-1, art. 2
in effect

Austin City Code § 8-1-11 USE OF PUBLIC RECREATION AREAS GENERALLY.

§ 8-1-11 - USE OF PUBLIC RECREATION AREAS GENERALLY. (A) Except as otherwise provided, a public recreation area is available for public use subject to: (1) a requirement, if any, to obtain an approval; (2) a requirement, if any, to pay an entrance fee, parking fee, or other fee; or (3) a previous reservation. (B) A person may not be present at a public recreation area outside of operating hours. (C) Except as provided in the department's rules, the operating hours of a public recreation area are 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (D) It is an affirmative defense to a violation of Subsection (B) if at the time of the alleged violation, the person was present at a public recreation area because the person was participating in or attending an activity conducted in accordance with an approval. (E) A person may not clear, harvest, excavate, gather, or remove wood, plants, or artifacts at a public recreation area without an approval. (F) A person may not knowingly disrupt an activity conducted pursuant to an approval in a public recreation area. (G) A person may not remain in a public recreation area if the person is advised that the person's behavior is disruptive and the person is instructed to leave the property by supervisor of the department. (H) A person may not: (1) place a geocache in a public recreation area without an approval; (2) place, scatter, disperse, or dispose of human or cremation remains in a public recreation area without an approval; (3) place or erect a memorial on a public recreation area without an approval; (4) modify a memorial placed or erected on a public recreation area; or (5) jump, dive, or otherwise travel from a bridge or other structure into a body of water. (I) A person may not operate a remote-control device: (1) in a manner that infringes on the personal space or quiet of other individuals; or (2) in a public area recreation area designated as a trail, sports field or court, playground, splash pad, or swimming pool area. (J) Except as provided by the director, a person may not light, build, or maintain a fire in a public recreation area. Source: Ord. No. 20190307-014, Pt. 2, 3-18-19; Ord. No. 20240229-046, Pt. 3, 3-11-24.

Austin City Code § 8-1-12 APPROVAL TO USE PUBLIC RECREATION AREA REQUIRED.

§ 8-1-12 - APPROVAL TO USE PUBLIC RECREATION AREA REQUIRED. (A) An approval is required for a person to reserve a public recreation area. (B) A person may not fish, camp, or use a specific area in a public recreation area between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. without an approval. (C) A person may not conduct a special event in a public recreation area without an approval. (D) The director shall grant an approval described in this section unless: (1) the intended use is commercial activity or is a special event that includes commercial activity; or (2) the intended use would result in: (a) scheduling conflict; (b) traffic congestion; (c) damage to the public recreation area or landscape; (d) a threat to public health, safety or welfare; or (e) a use inconsistent with the purpose of the public recreation area or nature preserve; or (3) the public recreation area is closed to public entry or otherwise restricted. (E) If a public recreation area must be reserved, a person may not enter the public recreation area without a reservation. Source: 1992 Code Section 11-1-5(A); Ord. 031009-11; Ord. 031211-11; Ord. No. 20170615-023, Pt. 4, 6-26-17; Ord. No. 20190307-014, Pt. 2, 3-18-19; Ord. No. 20240229-046, Pt. 4, 3-11-24.

Austin City Code § 8-1-13 FEE FOR PARK USE; EXCEPTION.

§ 8-1-13 - FEE FOR PARK USE; EXCEPTION. (A) Except as provided in this section, a person shall pay a fee or charge established by ordinance for the use of a public recreation area or a recreational facility. (B) A vehicle entry fee may not be charged to: (1) a vehicle bearing a current license plate issued to a veteran with disabilities under Section 502.254 (Veterans with Disabilities) of the Texas Transportation Code and the driver of the vehicle; or (2) a person holding a current state parklands passport issued under Section 13.018(a)(2) (State Parklands Passport) of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code. (C) Notwithstanding any other provision in the Code, a City employee presenting a valid City identification card may not be charged a fee for: (1) parking at Zilker Park; (2) admission to: (a) a City pool facility; (b) Lake Walter E. Long Park; and (c) Emma Long Metropolitan Park. (D) A person under the age of 18 engaging in the occasional sale of nonalcoholic beverages may not be charged a fee under this section. Source: 1992 Code Sections 11-1-6 and 11-1-7; Ord. 031009-11; Ord. 031211-11; Ord. 20050512-015; Ord. No. 20170615-023, Pt. 5, 6-26-17; Ord. No. 20190919-038, Pt. 2, 9-30-19.

Austin City Code § 8-1-14 APPROVAL FOR COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY.

§ 8-1-14 - APPROVAL FOR COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY. (A) A person may not conduct a commercial activity or a special event that includes commercial activity in a public recreation area without an approval. (B) The director may grant an approval required in Subsection (A) if: (1) the approval will not: (a) create a scheduling conflict; (b) create traffic congestion; (c) cause damage to the public recreation area; or (d) result in a threat to public health, safety, and welfare; and (2) the commercial activity is consistent with the purpose of the public recreation area; and (3) the requested public recreation area is not closed to public entry or otherwise restricted. (C) A person may not use a structure or other personal property for a commercial activity unless the structure or personal property is included in the approval. (D) A person may not board individuals from a park or dock managed, maintained, or operated by, or on behalf of, the department onto a watercraft used for a commercial activity without an approval. (E) A person may not disembark individuals from a watercraft used for a commercial activity onto a park or dock managed, maintained, or operated by, or on behalf of, the department without an approval. (F) A person under the age of 18 engaging in the occasional sale of nonalcoholic beverages may not be required to obtain approval under this section. Source: Ord. No. 20190307-014, Pt. 2, 3-18-19; Ord. No. 20190919-038, Pt. 3, 9-30-19.

Austin City Code § 8-1-15 LIMITS ON SPECIAL EVENTS.

§ 8-1-15 - LIMITS ON SPECIAL EVENTS. (A) For purposes of this section, special event days do not include days to set up and take down a special event. (B) Except as provided in Subsections (D) and (E), the Council establishes the maximum number of special event days for the following public recreation areas: (1) Zilker Metropolitan Park is 24 per calendar year; (2) Festival Beach at Edward Rendon Senior Metropolitan Park is 17 per calendar year; and (3) Auditorium and Vic Mathias Shores at Lady Bird Lake Metropolitan Park is 17 per calendar year. (C) As of June 8, 2017, the reoccurring special events and days used are: (1) Zilker Metropolitan Park: Reoccurring Special Event | Days Used Trail of Lights 5k | 1 Trail of Lights Event Nights | 14 Zilker Park Kite Festival | 1 Zilker Garden Festival | 2 Blues on the Green | 4 Zilker Relays | 1 ACL Festival | 6 (2) Festival Beach at Edward Rendon Senior Metropolitan Park: Reoccurring Special Event | Days Used Heart of Texas Regatta | 2 Texas Vegefest | 1 Bengali New Year Celebration | 1 Texas Rowing Championships | 2 Dragon Boat Races | 2 Cinco de Mayo | 2 Hot Sauce Festival | 1 Pride Festival | 1 Diez y Seis | 2 Craft Brewer's Festival | 1 Head of the Colorado | 1 Celtic Festival | 2 Ice Cream Festival | 1 (3) Auditorium and Vic Mathias Shores at Lady Bird Lake Metropolitan Park: Reoccurring Special Event | Days Used SXSW Music Festival | 3 Urban Music Festival | 2 Austin Reggae Festival | 3 Capitol 10k | 1 Austin Food and Wine Festival | 2 Sunshine Run 5k and 10k | 1 Cap Tex Tri | 1 4 th of July | 1 Tri Rock Austin | 1 Austin Marathon Relay | 1 Fun, Fun, Fun Festival | 3 New Year's Eve | 1 (D) Council authorizes the continued use of the public recreation areas for the number of special event days described in Subsection (C). If a reoccurring special event described in Subsection (C) does not occur in substantially the same form after the effective date of this section, the City Manager may not allow the special event days to be used by a different special event until the number of days used per calendar year is less than maximum established in Subsection (B). (E) In addition to the days authorized in Subsection (B)(3), the City Manager may authorize single day non-reoccurring special events to take place at Auditorium and Vic Mathias Shores at Lady Bird Lake Metropolitan Park for a municipal purpose if the total number of special event days does not exceed 25 per calendar year. In evaluating a request described by this subsection, the City Manager must consider the following factors: (1) a scheduling conflict at the public recreation area or with adjacent properties; (2) traffic congestion; (3) potential damage to park property or landscape; (4) potential threat to public health, safety or welfare; (5) availability of city resources required to permit and to provide services to the special event; and (6) availability of other public recreation areas for the special event. (F) Nothing in this section limits the City Manager's authority to establish a maximum number of special event days that may be used at other public recreation areas. Source: Ord. No. 20170615-023, Pt. 7, 6-26-17; Ord. No. 20190307-014, Pts. 4, 9, 3-18-19.

Austin City Code § 8-1-16 ANIMAL RESTRICTIONS.

§ 8-1-16 - ANIMAL RESTRICTIONS. (A) This section applies to a nature preserve, swimming pool, an indoor recreational facility, building, and any other recreation facility the director designates by rule. (B) In this section, animal includes, but is not limited to, fowl, livestock, miniature livestock, and small animals. (C) An owner or handler may not allow an animal to be present in a public recreation area described in Subsection (A) except: (1) as required under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA); or (2) when an approval authorizes an animal to be present in a public recreation area. (D) It is an affirmative defense to a violation of this section, if at the time of the alleged violation, the animal was present pursuant to an approval. Source: Ord. No. 20190307-014, Pt. 3, 3-18-19.

Austin City Code § 8-1-17 COMPLIANCE WITH APPROVAL REQUIRED.

§ 8-1-17 - COMPLIANCE WITH APPROVAL REQUIRED. (A) An approval issued under this title is not a waiver, exception, or defense to a violation of a rule, guideline, or City Code requirement. (B) A person must comply with an approval, including any conditions, department guidelines, rules, and City Code requirements. (C) A person shall display an approval to a peace officer or City employee when requested. Source: Ord. No. 20190307-014, Pt. 3, 3-18-19.

Austin City Code § 8-1-18 PENALTY.

§ 8-1-18 - PENALTY. (A) Except as provided in Section 8-1-19 (Penalty During a Special Event), a person commits a misdemeanor offense punishable by a fine not to exceed $500 and not less than $100 if the person fails to comply with: (1) Section 8-1-12 (Approval to Use Public Recreation Area Required); or (2) Section 8-1-14 (Approval for Commercial Activity). (B) A culpable mental state is not required and need not be proved for an offense punishable under this section. Source: Ord. No. 20190307-014, Pt. 3, 3-18-19.

Austin City Code § 8-1-19 PENALTY DURING A SPECIAL EVENT.

§ 8-1-19 - PENALTY DURING A SPECIAL EVENT. (A) A person commits a misdemeanor offense punishable by a fine not to exceed $500 and not less than $200 if, during a special event, the person fails to comply with: (1) Section 8-1-12 (Approval to Use Public Recreation Area Required); or (2) Section 8-1-14 (Approval for Commercial Activity). (B) A culpable mental state is not required and need not be proved for an offense punishable under this section. Source: Ord. No. 20190307-014, Pt. 3, 3-18-19.

Austin City Code § 8-1-20 TREES.

§ 8-1-20 - TREES. (A) A person may not alter a tree for use as an anchor post for rock climbing, a hammock, a slackline, or a highline. (B) A person may not use a tree as an anchor post for rock climbing, a hammock, a slackline, or a highline if the tree is: (1) less than 12 inches in diameter; (2) a heritage tree, as that term is used in Title 25 (Land Development), or (3) the tree is posted as being a tree that may not be used for an anchor post. Source: Ord. No. 20240229-046, Pt. 5, 3-11-24.

Austin City Code § 8-1-21 ROCK CLIMBING.

§ 8-1-21 - ROCK CLIMBING. (A) A person may engage in rock climbing in an area designated for rock climbing by the director. (B) Before a person can bolt a new route, the director must approve the new route. (C) A person shall not move rocks or trample vegetation while rock climbing or creating a staging area for rock climbing. (D) A person shall remove all gear and webbing from the public recreation area except pre-approved and installed bolts. (E) A person engaged in rock climbing must maintain a safe and easy passageway for other visitors. Source: Ord. No. 20240229-046, Pt. 5, 3-11-24.

Austin City Code § 8-1-22 SLACKLINES, HIGHLINES, ZIP LINES, AND HAMMOCKS.

§ 8-1-22 - SLACKLINES, HIGHLINES, ZIP LINES, AND HAMMOCKS. (A) A person must remove a slackline, highline, zip line, or hammock when not in use. (B) A person may not set up a slackline, highline, zip line, or hammock in a manner that: (1) blocks an entrance or exit to a public recreation area; or (2) interferes with a public walkway. (C) A person may not use a highline or slackline over a waterway. (D) A person may not use a highline or slackline: (1) before dawn or after dusk; or (2) when the public recreation area is closed. (E) A person may not anchor a slackline, highline, or hammock to an object or fixture other than a tree or rock without an approval. (F) When anchoring a slackline or highline to a rock, a person may not install bolts or other items that change the nature of the rock. (G) A person may not set up a zip line in a public recreation area without approval. Source: Ord. No. 20240229-046, Pt. 5, 3-11-24.
Source: City of Austin, City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/austin/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT8PARE_CH8-1PAAD_ART2REPAUSFetched: 10/27/2026

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