Louisville Municipal Code for Open Space

Louisville Municipal Code for Parks and Recreation

Access Permits

If you or your contractor are doing work on your private property and need to access your property via Parks or Open Space land, you will need to complete and submit an Access Permit.

Open Space Access Permit

Parks Access Permit

Usage Permits

If you wish to use a section of a public park or open space for a private activity or event, but do not wish to rent a shelter, you will need to complete and submit a Usage Permit.

Open Space Usage Permit

Parks Usage Permit 

If you need assistance, please contact Parks and Open Space Administrative Assistant at ParksAndRec@LouisvilleCO.gov.  

Permitted Special Events

A Permitted Special Event Application is required for:

• Groups of more than 25 people using any City right-of-way, street or trail for an activity - including City -sponsored, nonprofit, school or commercial groups.
• Events hosting 250 or more attendees in any City park.

Harper Lake Boat Permit

In the use of any City Owned Property, it shall be unlawful for any person to:

• Encroach into any open space or park property with any private improvements, including but not limited to gardens, landscaping, fences, paths, or compost piles or store any personal property on open space or park land.
• Dig, remove, destroy, injure, mutilate, collect, deface, pollute, or cut any natural or cultural resource or any portion thereof, including but not limited to trees, grass, soil, and rock. The building or maintaining of private paths or paths not authorized by the City (including but not limited to paths consisting of rock, flagstone, or mowed or cut grass or plants) on open space or park land is prohibited.
• No person shall deposit or cause to be deposited any rubbish, trash, manure, ashes, tin cans garbage, waste matter or debris of any kind in any ditch, canal, or waterway, nor in any street or alley, nor upon any property within the city, whether such property is publicly or privately owned.

 The complete Municipal Code of Ordinances can be found here.

DOGS AND PETS

• Pets must be on 10-foot leash and under physical control at all times.
• Electronic collars (e-collars) are not allowed as a substitute for a physical leash.
• No dogs allowed at Harper Lake. Service dogs, as that term is defined in the Americans with Disabilities Act or applicable state law, are allowed. The ADA does not recognize "emotional support" animals as service dogs.
• No donkeys, llamas, alpacas, horses, cattle, or any other livestock.
• Dog waste must be picked up and disposed of immediately.
• No dog or other animal that is aggressive or in heat is allowed.

FIRES AND GRILLING

• Fires, stoves, and charcoal grills are strictly prohibited on all City-owned parks and open spaces.
• Gas stoves and grills are permitted on parks only. A barrier is required to protect the ground from grease. All grills are prohibited on open space.

COMMERCIAL USE

• No business or commercial activity, including sale, advertisement, or distribution of merchandise, except by written permit.

SOUND AND MUSIC

• No amplified sound (including voices) or music without written permit.

DRONES AND REMOTE-CONTROLLED (RC) DEVICES

• Prohibited to take off, land, or operate any drone, motorized, or non-motorized aircraft.
• No remote-controlled land, water, or airborne devices, except by written permit.

PROJECTILES

• Firearms are not allowed on City property.
• No projectile weapons of any kind, including but not limited to slingshots, BB guns, pellet guns, air guns, air soft guns, paint ball guns, blow guns, and archery.
• No fireworks, firecrackers, or hobby rockets.

VEHICLES AND BIKES

• No driving any motorized vehicles or equipment onto City-owned land without permit.
• Bikes and e-bikes must stay on designated trails.
• Class 1 and 2 e-bikes are allowed on City trails and bike paths.
• Bicyclists yield to pedestrians and bicyclists heading downhill yield to bicyclists heading uphill.
• When passing or yielding to other trail users, slow to a safe speed, establish communication, and be prepared to stop.

FISHING AND BOATING

• Fishing allowed with valid Colorado fishing license at Harper Lake, Warembourg fishing pond, and Lake Park. State of Colorado catch limits apply. Fishing prohibited at all other locations.
• No swimming, wading, diving, ice skating, or ice fishing.
• Boating allowed at Harper Lake with City permit.
• No stand-up paddleboards. Boats must have sides.
• Boats must have solid bottom and may not be self-bailing.
• Boats must comply with these rules in their original, factory condition.

ALCOHOL, SMOKING, AND VAPING

• Alcohol, smoking, and vaping not allowed on any City-owned land.

WASTE AND GLASS

• No glass or other breakable container.
• No littering.
• No dumping or depositing waste material (trash, landscaping refuse, etc.) generated on private property.

TRESPASSING AND HOURS OF USE

• No private improvements (paths, landscaping, plants) on City-owned land. 
• No leaving private property on City-owned land. Property left more than 24 hours will be considered abandoned and may be thrown out.
• No camping or remaining on City property outside use hours. Open Space use hours are one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset. Parks use hours are 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
• No holiday or other decorations, including but not limited to electric lights, ornaments, banners, or ribbons may be placed on City property.

WILDLIFE

• No one may take, seize, feed, pursue, trap, harass, disturb, molest, injure, or hunt, or engage in any activities similar in nature to those listed above with regard to any animal, fish, wildlife, or livestock.
• No collecting firewood.
• No one may dig, remove, destroy, or disturb any trees, grass, soil, rock, or any other natural or artificial feature or structure.

FLYERS

• No posting flyers, advertisements, handouts, notices, etc. on any City property.
• No writing or marking of any kind of any natural or artificial feature or structure.