Park rules and by-laws

By-laws are local laws made by councils and confirmed by a Secretary of State.

Why do we need by-laws?

We put by-laws in place to help improve everyone’s enjoyment of our parks and open spaces.  Sometimes parks and open spaces are used for activities that are unacceptable. For example, an activity might cause distress or even injury to other users, or damage council or personal property.  The by-laws allow us to monitor such activity and if necessary prevent it altogether.

Breaching a by-law is an offence and an offender may be prosecuted in court or issued with a fixed penalty notice.

In addition to the by-laws, parks and open spaces managed by the council can also be covered by national laws.  Rangers are responsible for enforcing by-laws and national laws when appropriate.