Park use policies
Community Festivals & Special Events
The Parks Departments of the City & District of North Vancouver have established the following responsibilities and policies to ensure that park visitors and neighbours are respected during festivals and special events. Please read these carefully, and make sure your event organizers and participants are aware of them before the event.
To book a park for a community festival or special event, call 604-990-3841 or download our Park Event Application form (
PDF 112KB)
Obligations of the Event Organizing Committee
Designated event managers and designates shall be appointed and named on the permit to promote an effective communication link between event participants, neighbourhood residents, RCMP, and North Vancouver municipal staff (including bylaw officers).
Responsibilities of the Event Committee include:
- Assigning a First Aid attendant
- Concession
- Communication (including notifying the neighbourhood of your event)
- Extra needs (such as port-o-potties, garbage bags and cans, bleachers, tents, etc.)
- Garbage and clean-up
- Parking and traffic control
- Washroom cleaning and monitoring (supplies, etc.).
Conditions of Park Event Use
Besides respecting other park visitors and neighbours, your event committee should also keep the following in mind.
- Alcohol Consumption is prohibited except where approved by Special Event Permit, RCMP, and Park permission.
- Dogs are not allowed on sports fields, playgrounds or picnic areas at any time.
- Food may not be sold without a temporary food booth permit from North Shore Health Region-Community Health Services (604-983-6700).
- Garbage, including picnic and concession materials, must be put in garbage containers or taken away. If garbage cans become full, please remove the garbage and add a new bag. Take full bags to a dumpster. The dumping of ice, excess juice, water, or food on grass areas is forbidden.
- Gas, propane or hibachi barbecues are allowed in off-field areas.
- General cleanup after the event must ensure that washrooms, and concession areas are left in a clean condition.
- Noise from P.A. systems or loud speakers is not permitted near residential buildings without relaxation of the Noise Bylaws enacted by Mayor and Council.
- Event start and stop times are between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Please respect neighbours when early set-up or takedown of equipment is required.
- Parking should follow local parking regulations to avoid bylaw infractions and tickets. Park in park or school parking lots, wherever possible. Do not park in adjacent neighbourhoods. If excess parking is required for District events, contact Donna Howes in Traffic at 604-990-2402. For City events, contact Tom Sliwinski at 607-998-3458. It may be necessary to relax or increase parking restrictions during event times. Event organizers may be required to contact residents living in close proximity to the venue of the date and time that the proposed event is to be held, and ask for their patience regarding parking and incoming/outgoing traffic.
- Special vending concessions require Park permits and a temporary food booth permit from the North Shore Health Department.
- Washroom cleaning and supplies replacement is the responsibility of the event organizers. Caretakers are only on site to open and clean washrooms each morning.
Things to Consider...
Environmental Awareness
- Water is a precious resource, so please do your best to conserve it. Make sure hoses and taps are not left running during or after your event.
- Carefully dispose of any grey water used in preparing food or washing up. Most storm grates empty straight into our local streams, so dumping dirty grey water into grates pollutes them (as well as the ocean). Find out from municipal staff where and how to safely dispose of grey water BEFORE your event. Large events may need to contact an independent contractor for grey water storage and disposal.
- Motor oil and petrochemicals can seriously harm park ecosystems. Minimize vehicle use over grass or soil. If vehicles must be parked on grass (for example, at car shows), place a drip tray underneath the vehicle to catch any leaks.
- Minimize the risk of forest and brush fires during the dry season. Provide secure areas for event participants to dispose of cigarettes. Place cooking facilities over concrete and away from dry grass and fire-prone areas. Make announcements during your event to remind event participants of the risks.
- Be bear aware! Don't leave garbage out overnight. Store any garbage that you can't dispose of immediately in a sealed container.
Questions? Need help with a problem?
Contact us at 604-990-3841 or email. We'd be happy to help you.
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