City of Decatur
Chapter 74 – PARKS AND RECREATION
Revised Draft – April 2026
Cross-references to complete: RED. Provisions requiring amendment to another chapter before operative: ORANGE.
Cross reference— Cemeteries, ch. 26; environment, ch. 42; streets, sidewalks and other public places, ch. 86; zoning, pt. IV. UDO.
ARTICLE I – GENERAL PARK USAGE
Sec. 74-1. – Hours for Public Parks.
Public parks maintained and operated by the city shall be opened at 7:00 a.m. and closed at one-half hour after sunset; provided, however, that the closing time may be extended if, and only if, at the regularly scheduled closing time there is an ongoing activity supervised by the Recreation Department of the city or having a permit issued by the Recreation Department, in which event the closing time shall be ten minutes after the ending of such supervised activity or permitted event.
(Code 1967, § 16½-1; Ord. No. O-91-07, 5-20-91)
Sec. 74-2. – Firearms Prohibited in City Parks; Exception.
No firearms shall be permitted in public parks owned and operated by the city except those in the possession of duly authorized law enforcement officers.
(Code 1967, § 16½-2)
Sec. 74-2.1. – Penalty for Violation of Chapter.
Any person guilty of a violation of this chapter shall be punished as provided in Sec. 1-12 of this Code.
Sec. 74-3. – Glass Containers in Parks.
No person shall be permitted to bring glass containers, including those used to hold beverages, into public parks owned and operated by the city.
(Ord. No. O-91-13, 8-5-91)
Sec. 74-4. – Wheeled Devices. [Replaces “Motor Vehicles in Parks,” Ord. No. O-92-04]
(A) No person shall operate a motorized vehicle of any kind or nature in or on any park or other area owned or operated by the city for recreation purposes, provided that this section shall not apply to vehicles used for maintenance purposes, to licensed vehicles using marked roadways, marked driveways and parking areas, or to mobility assistance devices used by persons with disabilities in accordance with applicable state and federal law.
(B) Wheeled recreational devices (powered or non-powered) are prohibited from the track, turf, natural turf fields, or greenspaces, except as provided in subsection (A) above.
(C) Use of bicycles, scooters, skateboards, or skates is permitted only in areas within a park or recreation facility designated by the Director or the Director's authorized agent for such operation.
(D) All persons under the age of 16 must wear a helmet that meets or exceeds the impact standards prescribed under O.C.G.A. § 40-6-296 while operating or as a passenger on a bicycle, scooter, skateboard, or skates within a park or recreation facility.
(E) Electric Bicycles (E-Bikes). Electric bicycles, as classified under O.C.G.A. § 40-1-1, are permitted in city parks subject to the following restrictions:
(1) Class 1 e-bikes (pedal-assist only, maximum assisted speed 20 mph) and Class 2 e-bikes (throttle-assisted, maximum speed 20 mph) are permitted in any area of a park or recreation facility designated for bicycle use.
(2) Class 3 e-bikes (pedal-assist, maximum assisted speed 28 mph) are permitted only on paved multi-use paths within parks. Class 3 e-bikes are prohibited on unpaved trails, natural surface paths, and in areas with high pedestrian concentration including playgrounds, picnic areas, and athletic field perimeters. The maximum speed for Class 3 e-bikes in any park or recreation facility is 15 mph.
(3) All e-bike operators must yield to pedestrians at all times. The Director may post additional restrictions on e-bike use at specific parks or facilities as conditions warrant.
(4) The helmet requirement of subsection (D) applies to all e-bike operators and passengers under the age of 16. All operators of Class 3 e-bikes regardless of age are required to wear a helmet.
(Ord. No. O-92-04, 3-16-92; amended [INSERT Ord. No. and date])
Sec. 74-5. – Animals in Parks.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person who harbors, possesses, or is in charge of a domestic restrained or unrestrained animal (such as dogs or cats) to bring said animal onto athletic fields or designated playgrounds of the City of Decatur without obtaining written permission from the Recreation Department.
(b) All animals in city-owned parks must be properly restrained as defined in Sec. 14-34 of this Code, and when on leash, must be secured by a leash not exceeding six (6) feet in length. All dogs and cats must additionally display current rabies inoculation tags as required by Sec. 14-35 and Sec. 14-38 of this Code.
(c) It shall be unlawful for any person who possesses, harbors, or is in charge of any domestic animal not to immediately remove excrement deposited by the animal while in a city park. Animal waste must be removed and deposited in suitable sanitary containers. See also Sec. 14-9(b) and (c) of this Code.
(d) It shall be unlawful for any person to ride, graze, or walk a horse or other type of hoofed animal within city parks without obtaining written permission from the Recreation Department.
(e) Wildlife Feeding. It shall be unlawful for any person to feed, attract, or provide supplemental food to any wildlife in a city park or recreation facility, except as part of a program formally approved in writing by the Director. The City of Decatur is designated as a bird sanctuary pursuant to Sec. 14-14 of this Code; hunting, shooting, trapping, or molesting any bird or wild fowl in city parks is separately prohibited under Sec. 14-15. Approved programs under this subsection may include certified naturalist-led education programs, native pollinator garden maintenance, and wildlife rehabilitation activities conducted under valid state and federal permits.
(f) Off-Leash Areas. The Director may designate specific areas within parks as dog parks, as that term is defined in Sec. 14-31 of this Code. The following rules apply in all designated dog parks:
(g) Natural Area Buffers. Where a designated off-leash area is adjacent to a natural greenspace, wildlife corridor, wetland, or identified habitat area, the Director shall establish and post a minimum 50-foot no-access buffer. Dogs must be leashed within buffer zones at all times. Buffer designations shall be reviewed annually and updated as habitat surveys warrant.
(Ord. No. O-01-06, 3-5-01; Ord. No. O-05-06, 4-4-05; amended [INSERT Ord. No. and date])
Sec. 74-6. – Public Address Systems in Parks.
No public address systems, loudspeakers, or amplifying devices shall be used in city parks unless written authorization for use is given by the Recreation Department. All amplified sound in parks is additionally subject to the noise regulations of Ch. 42, Art. III of this Code (Sec. 42-56 through 42-60), including the decibel limits of Sec. 42-59(16) and the loudspeaker restrictions of Sec. 42-59(2)(c). Activities operating under a Recreation Department permit or a special event permit issued pursuant to Ch. 86, Art. VI are subject to the exemptions of Sec. 42-60(3) and (6) during the hours authorized by the permit.
(Ord. No. O-05-06, 4-4-05; amended [INSERT Ord. No. and date])
— Recommended Additions to Article I —
Sec. 74-7. – Commercial Activity.
It shall be unlawful for any person to sell or offer for sale any merchandise or service to members of the public, operate or attempt to operate a concession, or organize or operate any for-profit league, tournament, camp, or recurring group commercial program in a park or recreation facility unless authorized by written permit from the Director or the Director's authorized agent.
For the purposes of this section, a permit is required for any activity that: (i) charges participants registration, entry, or membership fees for organized group play or competition; (ii) operates a recurring commercial training camp or multi-session group program with five (5) or more paying participants; (iii) conducts a tournament or competitive event from which the organizer derives profit; or (iv) involves the sale of any goods or services to the public.
Individual or small-group instruction — including tutoring, personal coaching, and one-on-one or small-group skills development — is permitted without a permit, provided that: (i) the instruction does not displace permitted activities or unreasonably restrict public access to a facility; (ii) no more than four (4) paying participants are involved in a single session; and (iii) the instructor does not reserve, monopolize, or claim exclusive use of any field, court, or facility.
Permit applicants for commercial leagues, camps, or group programs shall demonstrate proof of general liability insurance in an amount specified by the Director.
Any commercial activity that also meets the definition of a “special event” under Sec. 86-151 of this Code requires a special event permit from the Director of Public Safety pursuant to Ch. 86, Art. VI, in addition to any permit required under this section.
Sec. 74-8. – Golf.
It shall be unlawful for any person to practice, play, or otherwise participate in the game of golf, except at a recreation facility designated by the city for such use and only in accordance with the rules, regulations, and restrictions established by the Director or the Director's authorized agent. For the purposes of this section, the game of golf does not include disc golf.
Sec. 74-9. – Detection Devices.
It shall be unlawful for any person to use any electronic device for the detection of metals, minerals, artifacts, lost articles, or for treasure hunting in any park or recreation facility without written authorization from the Director or the Director's authorized agent.
Sec. 74-11. – Fireworks and Explosives.
It shall be unlawful for any person to use or possess in any park or recreational area any fireworks, explosives, or firecrackers unless such use has been approved by special written permission granted by the City Commission.
Sec. 74-12. – Securing of Gates.
It shall be unlawful for any person or organization to lock any walk-in gates to any ball field or athletic field in any park or recreational area so as to prohibit public entry.
During the period of active, scheduled play under a current permit issued by the Recreation Department, gates may be passively secured — by latch, rope, bungee, or similar non-locking means — solely to prevent unauthorized vehicle or pedestrian intrusion onto the playing field. Any such means of securing must permit free egress from inside the field at all times without the use of a key, combination, or tool. Gates must be fully reopened to the public immediately upon conclusion of permitted play.
For the purposes of this section, “lock” means any device or mechanism that requires a key, combination, code, or tool to open from either side, including padlocks, keyed latches, and combination chains. The use of any such device on a walk-in gate is prohibited at all times except by city personnel for park closure during non-operational hours as authorized in writing by the Director.
In no event shall any gate be secured in any manner that impedes emergency access or violates any applicable fire or safety code.
Sec. 74-13. – Use of Engine-Powered Models, Air Vehicles, Toys, and Unmanned Aerial Systems.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to start, take off, or land any fuel-powered engine, jet-type, or electric-powered model aircraft, rocket, or like-powered toy or unmanned aerial system (UAS/drone), except at those areas designated by the city for such use and then only in accordance with such rules, regulations, and restrictions established by the Director or the Director's authorized agent. Any such permission, when issued, shall be subject to all applicable Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations.
(b) "Air vehicle" means any vehicle used or intended for manned operation in the air, including paramotors, ultralight aircraft, hot air balloons, airplanes, paragliders, and hang gliders.
(1) No person shall make any ascent or descent in any air vehicle, including parachute landings, on any city-owned or city-operated property, except as part of a City-sponsored event, pursuant to written authorization from the City, or as required by a genuine emergency landing.
(2) Any person operating an air vehicle or remote-controlled unmanned aircraft from city property shall do so in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, ordinances, and guidelines.
(c) Wildlife Disturbance Prohibition. Notwithstanding any permit issued under this section, operation of any unmanned aerial system at an altitude below 400 feet within 300 feet of any posted nesting area, wildlife habitat zone, or natural greenspace designated by the Director is prohibited, regardless of FAA authorization. The city expressly exercises its authority to impose restrictions on the use of public land more stringent than applicable federal regulations where necessary to protect natural resources. See also Sec. 14-14 (bird sanctuary designation) and Sec. 14-15 (prohibition on molesting birds and wild fowl) of this Code.
ARTICLE II – PARK CONDUCT
Sec. 74-14. – Ejection of Persons Causing Disturbances or Violating Law.
Any person causing a disturbance or engaging in any activity that unreasonably interferes with the use and enjoyment of the park by other citizens, or who violates any ordinance of the city or law of the state, shall leave the park upon notification by any authorized park employee or any law enforcement officer.
It shall be unlawful to refuse to leave a park or recreational area after violating any law or regulation established by this chapter when directed to leave by any law enforcement officer or authorized representative of the City of Decatur.
Suspension from Parks. Where there has been a violation of any provision of this chapter, or of the policies, procedures, rules, and regulations adopted and ratified under this chapter, or of any other applicable law, authorized officials may, in addition to any warning or citation that may be issued, suspend a person from the use of any or all city parks or recreation facilities, subject to the following requirements:
(a) Duration. Suspensions shall be for a defined period not to exceed one year for a first offense. Repeat violations within a 24-month period may result in suspension of up to three years. Suspensions of indefinite or permanent duration may only be imposed by the Director following the appeal process set forth in subsection (d).
(b) Written Notice. Any suspension of more than 30 days shall be issued in writing to the person suspended. The written notice shall state: (i) the specific violation or conduct giving rise to the suspension; (ii) the parks or facilities from which the person is suspended; (iii) the duration of the suspension and its start and end dates; and (iv) the person's right to appeal as provided in subsection (d). Notice shall be delivered in person at the time of suspension where practicable, or by first-class mail to the person's last known address within five business days.
(c) Immediate Ejection. Nothing in this section shall prevent the immediate ejection of any person from a park or recreation facility for conduct that violates this chapter or any other applicable law, pending formal notice of suspension.
(d) Appeal. Any person who receives a written notice of suspension under this section may appeal the suspension to the Parks and Recreation Director by filing a written request for appeal within 15 calendar days of receipt of the notice. The Director or the Director's designee shall hear the appeal within 15 business days of receipt of the written request. The Director may affirm, modify, or rescind the suspension. The Director's decision shall be issued in writing and is final.
Sec. 74-15. – Damaging or Removal of Park Property, Vegetation, or Wildlife.
It shall be unlawful for any person to deface, vandalize, harm, or damage any park property, buildings, or facilities; or to dig up, damage, or remove any trees, shrubbery, flowers, native plantings, landscaping features, or historical or cultural artifacts in a park or recreation facility without the approval of the Board of Commissioners in conjunction with the Parks and Recreation Director.
It shall be unlawful for any person, in any manner, to mark on, deface, injure, displace, dig, excavate, remove, or construct on any real or personal property in any park or recreational area, except when done pursuant to written permission granted by the City Commission.
Notwithstanding the above, the Director may issue written permits authorizing the removal of invasive species as identified on [INSERT — invasive species reference list, e.g., Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council list or applicable DNR citation]. Permitted invasive species removal programs are encouraged as a park stewardship activity and may be coordinated with naturalist organizations, volunteer groups, or city staff.
It shall be unlawful for any person to pollute, contaminate, or discharge any substance into any water body, watercourse, or drainage feature located within the boundaries of a city park or recreation facility.
ARTICLE III – VEHICLES AND PARKING
Sec. 74-16. – Parking Regulations in Parks.
ARTICLE IV – PROHIBITIONS
Sec. 74-17. – Smoking, Vaping, and Tobacco Use in Parks.
Smoking in all city parks is prohibited pursuant to Ch. 54, Art. II (Sec. 54-31 through 54-37) of this Code, which imposes a blanket prohibition on smoking in public parks and within 20 feet of any building entrance or ventilation system. In addition to the requirements of Ch. 54, Art. II, it shall be unlawful for any person to smoke, vape, or use any tobacco product within 20 feet of any playground, picnic pavilion, athletic field or court (including adjacent spectator areas), or outdoor pool or aquatic playground. All ashtrays and similar smoking paraphernalia shall be removed from any area in a park where smoking is prohibited.
Sec. 74-18. – Open Fires in Parks.
No open fires shall be permitted at any time or in any place in any park or recreation facility, except:
(a) Charcoal fires in picnic grills provided by the city are permitted. Such fires shall not be left unattended and shall be completely extinguished before the user departs the immediate vicinity.
(b) Personal grills of any kind are prohibited on park property except as provided in subsection (c) below.
(c) The Director may authorize the use of personal or commercial cooking equipment, including gas and charcoal grills, in connection with a permitted event, festival, or concession operation, provided such use is expressly included in the applicable written permit and complies with all applicable fire safety requirements.
Sec. 74-19. – Alcohol and Intoxicants.
It shall be unlawful for any intoxicated person to enter or remain in any park or recreational area.
Possession and consumption of alcoholic beverages in city parks is governed by Ch. 6, Sec. 6-22(b) of this Code, which prohibits such possession and consumption. [NOTE — Ch. 6 AMENDMENT REQUIRED: Sec. 6-22(b) currently contains an absolute prohibition on alcohol in city parks with no exception pathway. Before any permit-based exception for park events can take effect, the City Commission must separately amend Sec. 6-22 of Ch. 6 to create such an exception. Upon adoption of a Ch. 6 amendment, this section should be updated to read:] Except pursuant to a special event permit issued in accordance with Ch. 86, Art. VI, and any supplemental alcohol authorization approved by the City Commission consistent with Ch. 6 of this Code, the possession and consumption of alcoholic beverages in city parks remains prohibited.
Sec. 74-20. – Unauthorized Signage.
It shall be unlawful to place or display any sign, banner, or advertisement in any park or recreation facility, except that this prohibition shall not apply to signs or advertisements regarding City-sponsored or City-authorized programs, festivals, or other events. Such authorized signs may be placed or displayed only with written permission from the Parks and Recreation Director or their designee, only at the locations and during the times authorized in writing. Authorized signage must be removed and disposed of no more than 48 hours following the conclusion of the event.
The distribution of commercial handbills, dodgers, or advertising notices in parks is separately prohibited under Sec. 70-2 and Sec. 70-4 of this Code.
Sec. 74-21. – Waste Disposal.
All trash and refuse must be disposed of in designated receptacles. Littering and illegal dumping of any kind are prohibited in all park and recreation facilities. Any person violating this section is also subject to the penalties and enforcement provisions of Ch. 82, Sec. 82-53 of this Code, including reimbursement for city cleanup costs and any court-ordered litter pickup.
ARTICLE VI – GENERAL PARK RULES
The following activities are strictly prohibited in all parks and recreation facilities unless otherwise expressly authorized by permit or by this chapter. Activities meeting the definition of a “special event” under Sec. 86-151 of this Code require a special event permit from the Director of Public Safety pursuant to Ch. 86, Art. VI.
Draft prepared April 2026. RED = citation to complete. ORANGE = requires amendment to another chapter before operative.