Rules & regulations

To help protect Louisville's parks, trails, open spaces and facilities for everyone to enjoy the City has established rules and regulations outlined below.  Please review these rules to ensure safe, respectful and legal use of our shared public spaces.  

To report a violation or concern regarding activity on Parks or Open Space contact the Boulder County non-emergency dispatch number at (303) 441-4444.

Hours

Park Hours

• Louisville parks and park shelters are open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Open Space Hours

• Louisville Open Space areas are open from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset.

Louisville Municipal Code

• Louisville Municipal Code for Open Space
• Louisville Municipal Code for Parks and Recreation

Rules & Regulations

Alcohol, Smoking, and Vaping

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

Commercial Use

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Drones and Remote-Controlled (RC) Devices

• Under Louisville Municipal Code Sections 4.04.010 and 14.12.010, drones and other aircraft may not take off, land, or operate by remote control in City parks or open space areas. This applies to:
  • Drones
  • Rockets
  • Missiles
  • Helicopters
  • Ultralights
  • Gliders and sailplane
• No remote-controlled land, water, or airborne devices, except by written permit.
• Federal and local laws regulate drone use in Louisville. Anyone operating a drone must follow all City and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules.
• Emergency landings may be allowed if approved by City law enforcement or code enforcement officers.
• For more information and a more complete list of FAA regulations, please visit https://www.faa.gov/.

If you are interested in operating a drone from or over Boulder County Parks and Open Space, you should check with the County to make sure you’re following their regulations. Also before operating a drone on any school grounds, make sure to check with the school to make sure you’re operating safely and legally.

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.

Sound and Music

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

Trespassing

• 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 holiday or other decorations, including but not limited to electric lights, ornaments, banners, or ribbons may be placed on City property.

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.

Waste and Glass

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