Permits in Geauga Park District | Geauga Park District

Types of Permits

Special Use Permit

Most permits fall into this category. If you will be conducting any of the following activities, please complete and submit the form above:

• Bounce house or bubble house
• Gaming truck
• Live animal entertainment
• Tent, table or chair rental from a vendor
• Portable luxury restrooms or wash stations from a vendor
• Miscellaneous equipment rental
• Utilizing a parking area to stage additional equipment or vehicles
• Clambake, pig roast, smokers, cookers or large grills
• Multi-day event (e.g., two-day reservations for a wedding)
• Race, walk or sporting event
• Food truck and/or caterer staying to provide services
• Kitchen rental at Veterans Legacy Woods (in conjunction with an existing reservation for the Hall or Club)

Special use permits are required because grassy areas, trails, parking lots and restrooms near your reservation remain open to the general public during your event; your reservation is for indoor space only. Requesting a permit alerts our operations staff to prepare the facility’s outdoor areas for your use and for the reservation following yours.

All event setup must be completed during your reservation time slot (8:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.) and cannot be done early or left overnight.

Patrolling rangers also like to arrive prepared for activities happening outside the facilities when they visit. While we cannot cordon off an outdoor area for your event, a special use permit helps ensure the areas just outside your reserved facility are ready for your use.

A special use permit is also required for park visitation after posted park hours at Observatory Park. Please submit all after-hours requests at least 10 business days prior to your planned visit.

Soliciting guests to an event who were not previously invited is not permitted.

Valid 501c3 nonprofit, civic and government organizations may be eligible for reduced fees. Please call 440-286-9516 during normal business hours for the reduced rate.

Boating Permit (Bass Lake Preserve)

Request Form

A permit is required for canoes, kayaks or electric-powered boats to access Bass Lake Preserve. A boater may have three outstanding permits at one time. No cost is associated with these permits. View and print approved boating permits here.

Click here for complete information about boating in the parks.

General Information Why We Require Permits

Geauga Park District’s permitting program authorizes certain uses by the public that may not be part of the regularly occurring visitor services otherwise found promoted on our website.

If you are considering utilizing the Park District for anything outside the scope of those regularly occurring visitor services, please plan to apply for a permit.

Note: Any use that does not comply with Geauga Park District’s Rules & Regulations is either prohibited or requires a permit inquiry.

To know whether a permit is required, please send a permit inquiry to permits@geaugaparkdistrict.org or call 440-286-9516. Or, to apply for those permits you are familiar with and have applied for in the past, please check below for our most common permit applications.

Regardless of your inquiry or application, it is important to note that a permit is not valid until approved and issued by Geauga Park District. All permit applications must be received a minimum of three weeks prior to your event. Your request will be approved or denied within one week. If approved, you will receive your permit within two weeks. During this time, all facility reservations will be held. To cancel a permit application or facility reservation, please notify us at 440-286-9516.