Park Rules and Regulations

Overview

This is a summary of park rules and regulations. View the complete set of rules online, or in person at the Sheriff's Office at 300 Mendham Road, or at Park Commission Headquarters.

ARTICLE III - PROHIBITED ACTS

Section 1. Advertising

No person shall advertise within the park system without the written authorization of the Park Commission.

Section 2. Solicitation

No person, business, group or organization shall solicit for business, alms, contributions or for any purpose without written authorization of the Park Commission.

Section 3. Animals

No person without a permit shall cause or permit any animal owned by him, in his custody or under his control, except a dog in a permitted area when restrained by a leash not exceeding six feet in length, or those animals permitted by state statute, to go or be in any park area, and each such animal so found at large may be seized and disposed of as provided by the law or ordinance covering the disposal of stray animals on highways or public property then in effect at the place where such stray animal may be seen. Dogs are not permitted at any of the golf courses, Outdoor Education Centers, Arboreta, bathing facilities, Fosterfields or the Mennen Arena, except as permitted by state statute or specific Park Commission permit. Any person having control, or person that should have control over an animal or animals within the Park System shall dispose of any feces left by the animal(s) in a publicly maintained area or close enough to a publicly maintained area as to cause public annoyance. Such feces shall be disposed of in a sanitary manner.

Section 4. Explosives

No person shall bring into, or have in said parks any explosives without the written authorization of the park commission.

Section 5. Poisons

No person shall bring into or have in said parks any poison or poisonous substance, without the written authorization of the Park Commission.

Section 6. Fires

No person shall build, light, maintain any fire or discard any burning materials except in designated areas provided for such purposes. Any such fires shall be continuously under the care of a competent person until extinguished.

Section 7. Loitering

No person shall be permitted within the park system after sunset except in designated areas or as authorized by a specific Park Commission permit or enter the Park System before its official opening.

Section 8. Merchandise Sale Prohibited

No person shall sell or offer for sale any object or merchandise or any other thing, whether corporeal or incorporeal, except pursuant to a permit issued by the Park Commission.

Section 9. Alcohol

No person shall consume alcoholic beverages anywhere within the Morris County Park System, except by special permit issued by the park commission. Alcoholic beverages may be consumed at the golf courses in the clubhouses and within a radius of fifty feet there from during daylight hours.

Section 10. Possession of Weapons

No person shall possess any weapons as defined by NJSA 2C:39-1 unless a permit to do so has been issued by the park commission.

Section 11. Discharge of Weapons

No person shall discharge a weapon within the Morris County Park System without the written authorization of the park commission.

Section 12. Urinating or Defecating

No person shall urinate or defecate except in facilities provided for such use.

Section 13. Changing/Disrobing in Unauthorized Areas

No person shall change in and out of any clothing or bathing attire except in areas designated or customarily provided for such use.

Section 16. Camping

No person shall erect or maintain a tent or shelter and/or camp in any area except in designated sites provided for such usage and within the occupancy limit approved for each site. (Any persons visiting campers must leave the park system by 10 p.m.)

ARTICLE IV - REGULATED ACTS

Section 2. Bathing

No person shall bathe, wade or swim in any park waters except at such times and places as the park commission may designate.

Section 3. Boating 

No person, other than authorized operators of boats at Lee's County Park Marina, shall use or operate a boat, kayak, canoe inflated float, raft or other watercraft in any park waters without a permit, except those provided by the park commission. Life preservers must be worn at all times and occupants must remain seated.

Section 4. Skating, Skiing and Sledding

No person shall coast, tube, snowboard, sled or ski except at places designated by the park commission. No person shall use in-line skates, roller skates or skateboards except at places designated by the park commission. No person shall ice skate or go upon the ice except at such times and upon such places designated by the park commission.

Section 5. Models

No person shall engage in the use of gas or battery powered model aviation devices, model motor vehicles or boats, whether radio controlled or not, except at areas designated by the park commission or as authorized by permit.

Section 6. Horses

No person shall use, ride or drive a horse except at such times and only on paths and areas designated by the park commission.

Section 7. Groups

No group of twenty-five (25) or more persons shall use a county park or recreation area for a picnic or outing without first having obtained a permit in advance from the park commission.

Section 8. Regulation of Activities

The Sheriff's Officers have the right and power to enforce all the rules and regulations of the park commission, and violators of the rules and regulations may be directed to leave and may be subject to further penalties as determined by the park commission or statutes.

ARTICLE V - VEHICLES

Section 1. Motor Vehicle Act and Traffic Laws

All the provisions of the New Jersey State Motor Vehicle Act and traffic laws shall apply in the parks and shall be strictly enforced with also such further restrictions as may be hereinafter stated.

Section 2. Vehicles Where Prohibited

No person shall ride or drive any type of vehicle within or upon a walk, bridle path, or any part of the park not designated or customarily used for such purpose except or unless authorized by a specific permit issued by the park commission.

Section 3. Obeying Officers

When a Sheriff's Officer is directing traffic, all drivers of vehicles and pedestrians shall obey his orders and directions whether by hand, voice or other manner.

Section 4. Parking

No owner or driver shall park any vehicle anywhere outside of designated parking spaces, or leave the vehicle parked anywhere on park commission property after sunset except at such times and in such places as the park commission may designate.

Section 5. Off-Road Vehicles

No person shall drive or operate any off-road vehicle or snowmobile anywhere within the Morris County Park System except at such times and places as may be designated by the park commission and/or as authorized by a specific park commission permit.

Section 6. Restricted Traffic

When a road, drive or parkway shall be restricted as to traffic or closed and duly marked signs, road markings or barricades, it shall be a violation of this regulation to fail to observe and obey such signs, road markings or barricades.

ARTICLE VI - PROTECTION OF PROPERTY

Section 1. Damage to Property

No person shall damage, deface, remove or tamper with any property within the Morris County Park System.

ARTICLE VII - WILDLIFE  

Section 1. Wildlife

No person without a permit shall kill, wound, harass, trap, hunt, remove or have in his possession any animal, reptile, bird or nest or remove the eggs or young of any of the above.

No person shall fish in any of the park waters, unless in possession of the required New Jersey fishing license.

No person shall feed any animal or waterfowl any food or other substance except such food expressly permitted by the commission.

No person without a permit shall hunt on park commission land.

ARTICLE VIII - POLLUTION AND REFUSE

Section 1. Pollution of Waters

No person shall, within or without said parks, discharge into the waters of the parks or any tributary, river, brook, stream, storm sewer or drain flowing into said waters any substance which may result in the pollution of said waters.

Section 2. Littering

No person shall throw, deposit or leave litter or recyclable material within the park system except in designated receptacles provided therefore.

Section 3. Dumping

No person or company shall dump any material anywhere within the park system without the written authorization of the park commission. This is to include depositing in any dumpster, waste station, garbage can, or recycling can any waste which is generated outside of the park system. 

ARTICLE X - PENALTIES

Section 1. 

Any person violating any of the provisions herein shall, upon conviction thereof, before a Magistrate or Judge having jurisdiction, pay a penalty as provided by statute and stipulated in the Morris County Park Commission Schedule of Penalties, at the discretion of the Magistrate or Judge. In addition to any penalties provided thereof, restitution for the cost of labor can be ordered by the Judge or Magistrate.