Picnic Permit Information

The Picnic Permit Application is available here to download in Adobe® Acrobat™ PDF format. THIS ONLINE APPLICATION IS FOR VIEWING PURPOSES ONLY. We recommend that you print and fill out the online application and bring it with you to one of the facilities listed below, along with your permit application fee(s), in order to expedite your application process. Applications printed from this website will not be accepted. An actual Picnic Permit must be obtained from any of the locations listed below, and completed in person.

All Picnic Permits must be purchased several working days prior to the picnic date. (See Picnic Categories below for application deadlines.) The Picnic Permit chairman must apply for the Picnic Permit in person and must be 21 years or older to purchase a Picnic Permit. A valid drivers license is required upon purchase of a Picnic Permit. Picnic Permits are no longer available for purchase over the telephone.

Maps of the picnic grove areas are also available to you at each location, or you can download any of the grove maps online.

Picnic permits are available at the following locations:

• The Forest Preserve District of Cook County General Headquarters
  536 North Harlem Avenue
  River Forest, IL 60305
  Recreation Department
  Hours: 9am to 4pm, Monday through Friday
  
  
  
• The Cook County Administration Office
  69 West Washington, 22nd Floor
  Chicago, IL 60610
  Hours: 9am to 4pm, Monday through Friday
  

Picnic Categories

• Category W
  Groups involving 25 - 99 persons in attendance. Applications must be filed at least three (3) working days before the picnic/event is to take place, along with a $10.00 application fee.
  
  
• Category X    Picnic Permit Surcharge — $50
  Groups involving 100 - 499 persons in attendance. Application must be filed at least twenty-one (21) working days before the picnic/event is to take place, along with a $10.00 application fee and a $50.00 surcharge.
  
  
• Category Y    Picnic Permit Surcharge — $200
  Groups involving 500 - 999 persons in attendance. Applications must be filed at least twenty one (21) working days before the picnic/event is to take place. All “Y” category applications must be reviewed and approved by the Forest Preserve District before the permit is issued. The respective groves will be reserved during the review process. A $1,000,000, General Liability Insurance certificate and a surcharge of $200.00 is required before approval.
  
  
• Category Z    Picnic Permit Surcharge — $500
  Groups involving 1000 or more persons in attendance or where the picnic/event is promoted to a large segment of the public. Applications must be filed at least sixty (60) working days before the picnic/event is to take place, along with a $10.00 application fee. All “Z” category applications must be reviewed and approved by the Forest Preserve District before the permit is issued. The respective groves will be reserved during the review process. A $2,000,000 General Liability Insurance certificate and a surcharge of $500.00 is required before approval.
  
  

Picnic Permit Fees

The following picnic permit fees are based on one (1) grove:

PICNIC PERMIT SURCHARGE

Picnic Permit Change requests can be made within the application time frames indicated above for each respective picnic. Changes require a $5.00 fee with the original permit and receipt.

Picnics planning to have a beer truck, canopy tent, caterer, dunk tank, generator, ice cream truck, kiddie rides, moonwalk, overflow parking, petting zoo, pony rides, port o lets/port o sinks or other special use items, require a Special Use Permit in addition to a Picnic Permit. General liability insurance and a $20.00 fee is required. Special Use Permits can be issued in person or by mail, please see the Special Use Permits page for more information.

A Special Use Permit is required for the use of any device that amplifies sound. A written request for such use must be submitted to the Superintendent of Recreation for review before permission is given. The written request must specify the type of amplification and the reasons such a device is necessary.

Glass beverage bottles are not allowed on Forest Preserve District property without a Special Use Permit.

No money is to be exchanged on Forest Preserve property.

A maximum of two (2) picnic/event permits per year per applicant/organization is allowed.

NOTE: The following forest preserves are alcohol free:

Click to return to the Picnics page.