San Mateo Municipal Code Ch. 13.20 Park Regulations

The following acts and uses are prohibited in park properties and facilities.

(a) Damage, degrade, deface, place graffiti upon or in any way vandalize park properties and facilities.

(b) Litter, as described in Section 17.08.010. If no proper receptacles are provided, all litter shall be carried away from the premises by the person, group or organization responsible for its presence and properly disposed of elsewhere. This is to include the dumping of all household debris, trash and green waste.

(c) Possess, exhibit or use firearms, air guns, slingshots, firecrackers fireworks, torpedoes, rockets, missiles, or weapons of any sort designed or used to harm another, with the exception of peace officers authorized by the penal code.

(d) Fish, wade, swim, or bathe except in places designated therefor.

(e) Conduct or solicit any commercial activity or provide any class or service without having secured a vendor's permit or City contract and a business tax certificate from the Director of Finance.

(f) Enter any area which is posted as being closed to the public to protect growth or establish plants or to protect wildlife or environmentally sensitive areas or which is used as a service facility or which is under repair.

(g) Use turf areas including athletic fields while the turf is saturated from rainy weather regardless of whether the user has a Parks and Recreation Department athletic field permit.

(h) Kindle fires for any purpose except in places provided for such purposes or in a portable barbecue in an area designed for such purpose.

(i) Operate any vehicle, motor driven cycle/scooter or aircraft, whether licensed or unlicensed within the park properties and facilities excepting those specifically authorized by the Director of Parks and Recreation or designated representative performing work for the City of San Mateo.

(j) Operate motorized model airplanes or other miniaturized vehicles except as authorized by the Director of Parks and Recreation or designated representative.

(k) Smoking, as defined by Section 7.40.020(k).

(l) Use for meetings or to conduct group activities to the exclusion of the general public except by permit upon the terms and conditions set forth by City ordinances.

(m) Use or attempt to use or interfere with the use of any table, space or facility which at the time is reserved by permit for any other person or group.

(n) Any conduct that is deemed to be unsafe or to lead to unsafe conditions.

(o) No person shall use, and it is unlawful to use, a City of San Mateo skateboard facility by any person who is not wearing a helmet, knee pads, and elbow pads suitable to provide protection in the event of falls or collisions.

The use of amplified sound is prohibited without a permit allowing use of amplified sound except for events which are sponsored, co-sponsored, or staged in cooperation with the City. For permitted activities, sound levels shall not exceed 60 decibels (dB), measured from the boundaries of the areas designated for use of amplification equipment on the permit. In addition, maximum sound levels will be limited so as not to interfere with the reasonable enjoyment of the public in adjacent public areas or of private citizens within adjacent private property. The intent of this provision is to afford a comfortable enjoyment of life or property to the entire community. Amplified sound, of any type, is subject to the provisions of Section 7.30.080 of the municipal code.

It is prohibited to possess or consume alcoholic beverages in park properties and facilities except as designated by permit issued under this title. Applicants shall comply with State Alcoholic Beverage Control requirements.

The following regulations apply to animals in park properties and facilities:

(a) With the exception of dogs on leashes, no domesticated animals will be permitted in any park property or facility except as authorized by the Director of Parks and Recreation or designated representative.

(b) Any dogs permitted in parks shall be continually under leash pursuant to Municipal Code Section 8.02.070 excepting in designated City parks for dogs off leash as defined in Section 8.02.070 in the animal control ordinance.

(c) Under the provisions of Section 8.04.030, any person allowing a dog in their custody to defecate upon park grounds or facilities shall immediately remove and dispose of said feces in a sanitary manner.

(d) No dogs shall be allowed within 20 feet of any installed playground equipment.

(e) It is prohibited to capture, remove, abuse, feed, or kill any wild or domestic animal, reptile, fish or bird, including the eggs or nest of any reptile, wild animal or bird.

No persons over 12 years old shall be allowed to hit hardballs at any ballfields with an outfield perimeter fence of less than 250 feet.

The parking lots provided at park properties and facilities are to be used solely by patrons and those persons utilizing the programs, facilities or services of the Park and Recreation Department. No overnight parking is allowed in any parking lot serving an immediate area of any municipal park or recreation facility unless prior authorization is given by the Director of Parks and Recreation or designated representative.

The Director of Parks and Recreation shall have the authority to promulgate facility specific regulations. In addition to the authority granted under Sections 13.05.010 and 13.05.050 of this title, any person found to be in violation of a facility specific regulation promulgated by the Director or Parks and Recreation, shall be subject to removal from the park property or facility upon request of the facility manager. Such request, when made to law enforcement after refusal to comply, shall be a basis for forcible removal, citation or arrest.

(a) It is prohibited for any person to paste, glue, tack, staple, or otherwise post any sign, placard, advertisement, inscription, or decoration for any special event or any purpose on any park property or facility without the prior permission of the Director of Parks and Recreation or designee. Consent to post written materials in accord with this subsection shall be given for materials relating to events or programs aligned or supportive of the core business of the Parks and Recreation Department, as defined in Section 13.01.010, subject to reasonable time, place and manner restrictions. Posting or placement of all other materials is prohibited.

(b) Representatives designated by the Director of Parks and Recreation will manage community notice boards located at the dog park at Seal Point Park and outside the Arboretum Society to assure that no obscene materials are posted in those locations and to remove materials over 30 days old.