Waterfront Park Rules and Regulations

Hours of Operation

Park: 6 a.m. – 10 p.m.

These hours may vary. The park or park areas may close for maintenance, reservations, special events, classes, or inclement weather.

Fountain Jets: Hours vary

Please visit sdparks.org for up-to-date information.

Section A: General Park Rules

1. Children 12 years and under must be supervised at all times.
2. Dogs must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet and kept physically restrained at all times, with the exception of the off-leash dog area.
3. Dog waste must be picked up and disposed of in a trash receptacle.
4. Smoking, including vaping and electronic cigarettes, is prohibited.
5. Do not rummage in trash or recycling receptacles.
6. Do not remove or disturb park vegetation or soil. 
7.  No camping or fully enclosable tents.
8. No glass bottles or containers without permit/reservation.
9. No shopping carts, trolley/carts, luggage carriers or excessive amounts of personal property.
10. Recreational nets and canopies are allowed on grass.
11. Stakes for shade tents, canopies and similar items are permitted, however
    • No stakes in Civic Green 6.
    • No stakes within 15 feet of fountains.
    • No stakes within three feet of sprinkler heads.
    • No stakes more than 16-inches long
12. Use of motorized and non-motorized bicycles, scooters, skateboards, in-line skates or other similar wheeled devices is not permitted (except with written authorization).
13. Bikes must be stored and secured in provided racks. Do not leave bicycles or other wheeled devices unattended.
14. Unattended dockless bicycles and scooters must be left outside the park.
15. No pedicabs, surreys or pedal-powered vehicles.
16. No motorized vehicles except disabled persons’ accessibility equipment.
17. No organized sports practices or games.
18. No cleated shoes.
19. No application of sidewalk chalk or any other colored substance on surfaces.
20. All areas are available on a first come, first served basis unless there is a prior reservation.
    • To ensure the use of an area, park patrons must remain in the desired space.
21. The following decorations/items are prohibited: hay bales, confetti, glitter, rice, bird seed, oil lamps, any open flame, and artificial flower petals.
22. Objects, such as hammocks, signs, piñatas, decorations, and workout equipment, and dog leashes cannot be attached to park property including trees, benches, playground equipment, rails, etc. unless signed otherwise.
23. No begging or soliciting alms as described in Penal Code sec. 647(c). 
24. No abusive or foul language. County Ord. 41.138
25. Playground equipment must be used according to posted rules.

Section B: Permits Are Required For

1. Alcohol:
   • Alcohol is only allowed with area reservation and special permit.
   • Alcohol is never allowed in picnic or active recreation areas.
2. Barbecuing, cooking, catering, glass containers.
3. The use of musical instruments, sound equipment or sound amplification devices that exceed the decibel limits in Rule D-4.
4. Using motorized or non-motorized bicycles, skateboards, scooters, rollerblades, roller skates or similar wheeled devices.
5. Recreational apparatus including but not limited to inflatable bounce structures, climbing structures, dunking machines, trampolines, portable swing sets, or any other similar device, mechanism or structure.
   • Recreational apparatus is only allowed with civic green reservation.
6. Groups of 100 or more people.
7. Performances with stages, chairs, or other apparatus.
8. The use or operation of motorized model planes (including drones), model boats or model vehicles.

Section C: Fountain and Splash Pad Rules

1. Please use caution when playing in the fountains – the surface of the fountain and splash pad can be slippery. Individuals with children should take care to monitor the children while in the fountain and splash pads.
2. No blocking, standing on, redirecting or sitting on fountain jets.
3. No food/drinks in the fountains.
4. Swim diapers are required in the fountains for all non-potty-trained children. Regular diapers are not permitted. (Swim diapers are available for purchase at the park office.)
5. Clothing must be worn in the fountains. Clothing worn in the fountains must not, when wet, expose those parts of the body described in the County Regulatory Code 32.1002 prohibiting public nudity.
6. No animals are allowed in fountains, with the exception of guide and service animals actively engaged in providing guide and service assistance.
7. Wheelchairs/walkers are permitted in the fountains; all other wheeled devices are prohibited.
8. Beach balls are allowed in fountains. No other toys are permitted.
9. No dirt, grass or sticks in the fountains.
10. No bubbles in the fountains.
11. Bathing and cleaning products, including soap and shampoo, are not allowed in the fountains, restrooms or washing station.
12. Persons having a communicable disease, infection, rash, cough, sores or discharges, or wearing bandages, shall not enter the fountain or splash pad unless, prior to entering the water, they provide Park staff with a current written statement signed by a licensed physician that the user does not present a health hazard to other users.

Section D: Active Recreation Area Rules

1. Use areas at your own risk. The County of San Diego is not responsible for injury or damage.
   
2. All areas are available on a first come, first-served basis.
   
3. Play and use of recreational areas is limited according to the signs posted in/near each designated area.
4. Off-Leash Dog Area:
   
   • Owners are legally responsible for the behavior and supervision of their dogs.
   • Owners must have voice control over their dog with a leash readily available.
   • Dogs are allowed off leash only inside the off-leash area. County Ord. 41.123(i)
   • No dogs that are aggressive, in heat, sick, or unvaccinated.
   • No food allowed inside off-leash area.
   • No more than 4 dogs per person.
5. Pickleball and Basketball Courts:
   • Pets are not permitted inside the court areas.
   • Chairs or structures are not allowed on the court surface.
   • Proper footwear is required (such as tennis or athletic shows with a rubberized sole).
   • No food or drinks on court surfaces.

Section E: Speech, Vending, and Commercial Activities

1. No commercial transactions, selling, vending or advertising without a permit, as described in County Regulatory Code sec. 41.136.
   
2. Non-commercial speech and non-commercial expressive conduct other than vending (see D-3 below) is allowed anywhere in the park as long as it does not impede or obstruct pedestrian or vehicular traffic, cause congestion, prevent the use of or access to any building, facility or park feature in the manner for which it was designed and intended, pose a potential danger to public health and safety, or violate the prohibition against begging or soliciting as described in Penal Code section 647(c).
   If the non-commercial speech or other expressive conduct does impede or obstruct pedestrian or vehicular traffic, and/or cause congestion, prevent the use of or access to any building, facility or park feature in the manner for it which was designed and intended, the persons engaging in such activity will be given the choice of other available areas within the park in which to conduct the activity.
   
3. The vending of inherently communicative items with no more than nominal utility apart from communication is allowed.
   *Although an item may have some expressive purpose, it will be deemed to have more than nominal utility apart from its communication if it has a common and dominant non-expressive purpose. Examples include, but are not limited to housewares, appliances, clothing, sunglasses, oils, incense, perfume, lotions, candles, jewelry, toys, and stuffed animals.
   
4. Sound amplification – A permit is required for sound amplification devices or equipment that exceeds 60 decibels 25 feet from the source. The permit issued for the use of sound amplification may designate any area of the park as the permitted location for the use of the sound amplification equipment and the maximum decibel limit allowed by the permit.