Orange County Park Permits for Bounce Houses: The Complete Guide

Parks are one of the most popular spots for bounce house parties in Orange County. Wide open spaces, playgrounds for the kids, picnic shelters for the adults — what's not to love? But before you book your inflatable, you need to understand the permit rules. Every city in OC handles things a little differently, and showing up without the right paperwork can mean getting turned away.

Here's our complete breakdown of what's required, city by city.

The first thing to know is that Orange County has two completely separate park systems, each with its own rules:

• OC Parks (Regional Parks) — Run by the County of Orange. These are the big ones: Irvine Regional Park, Yorba Regional Park, Mile Square Park, Mason Regional Park, Craig Regional Park, and others.
• City Parks — Run by individual cities like Irvine, Huntington Beach, Anaheim, and others. Each city sets its own rules and fees.

The permit you need depends on which type of park you're using. A city permit won't work at a regional park, and vice versa.

If you're planning your party at a regional park like Irvine Regional Park, Yorba Regional Park, or Mile Square Park, here's the process:

Step 1: Make a Reservation

First, reserve your picnic area or shelter through the OC Parks reservation system. You can do this online at ocparks.com or by calling (866) 627-2757.

Step 2: Apply for a Vendor Permit

Once you have your reservation, submit a Special Event Permit Application to permits@ocparks.com. This is required anytime you're bringing in vendors — bounce houses, caterers, table and chair rentals, or any outside services.

Key Rules

• Personal bounce houses are banned. You cannot bring your own inflatable to any OC Park. You must rent from a vendor on the OC Parks Verified Vendor List.
• Generators are required. Park electrical outlets cannot be used for inflatables. Your vendor must bring their own generator (minimum 3,500 watts).
• Every vehicle pays to enter. Vendor trucks included. There's no re-entry, so plan accordingly.
• No food trucks are allowed at certain parks (Irvine Regional Park bans them entirely).

Fees and Timeline

• **Permit fee:** $75 for the first two vendors, plus $25 for each additional vendor
• **Timeline:** Submit your application at least 30 days before your event. If all your vendors are already on the approved list, the minimum drops to 14 days.
• **Insurance:** Vendors must carry $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate liability insurance, with the County of Orange named as additional insured.

OC Parks Contact Info

Reservations and Permits Unit 13042 Old Myford Rd, Irvine, CA 92602 Phone: (866) 627-2757 Fax: (714) 973-3336 Email: permits@ocparks.com

Irvine

Irvine is one of the most bounce-house-friendly cities in OC, with clear rules and lots of eligible parks.

• **Permit fee:** $30
• Where bounce houses are allowed with picnic reservation + permit: Colonel Bill Barber Marine Corps Memorial Park, Deerfield, Heritage, Mike Ward, Northwood, Turtle Rock, and Woodbury Community Parks
• Where bounce houses are allowed with permit only (under 50 people): Alderwood, Blue Gum, Canyon, Citrusglen, College, Comstock, Coralwood, Cypress Grove, Eastwood, Flagstone, Hoeptner, Homestead, Knollcrest, Pepperwood, Pinewood, Presley, Racquet Club, Ranch, San Carlo, San Marco, Silkwood, Sycamore, Valencia, Valley Oak, and Willows
• **Special cases:** Quail Hill and Sweet Shade parks only allow bounce houses with a multipurpose room rental
• Water slides and dunk tanks are not allowed at any Irvine city park
• Private bounce houses are banned — must use an approved vendor with an Irvine business license, liability insurance, and workers' comp
• Generator required — no park outlets allowed

Contact: (949) 724-6620 or reservations@cityofirvine.org

Huntington Beach

Huntington Beach has a straightforward permit system but some unique restrictions.

• **Permit fee:** $30 (non-refundable)
• **How to get it:** In-person only at City Hall, 2000 Main Street, 5th Floor, Monday-Friday 8 AM - 5 PM
• **Timeline:** At least 10 days before your event
• No staking allowed. Due to underground irrigation lines, inflatables must be anchored with sandbags or water buckets only.
• Generator required at all times
• Must be removed same day — no overnight setups
• Delivery trucks must stay off the grass
• First come, first served — a permit doesn't guarantee a specific spot in the park

What's NOT allowed: Water slides, obstacle courses, dunk tanks, rock climbing walls, sumo wrestling suits, trackless trains, and petting zoos.

Parks where bounce houses are banned entirely: Newland Barn, Harriett M. Wieder Regional Park, all Ocean View School District parks (Circle View, Glen View, Haven View, Hope View, Lake View, Marine View, Pleasant View, Robinwood), city beach areas, and Huntington Harbour beaches.

Contact: (714) 536-5486, press 2

Anaheim

Here's the big one that catches people off guard: bounce houses are completely banned in all Anaheim city parks under Anaheim Municipal Code Chapter 13.08. This includes every city-operated park in Anaheim.

If you're in Anaheim and want a bounce house party, your options are your backyard, an HOA community park (with HOA approval), or a regional park like Yorba Regional Park (which is OC Parks, not Anaheim).

City of Orange

• **Permit fee:** $60 (Special Event Park Permit)
• **Timeline: Applications accepted up to 5 months in advance but no later than 60 days** before the event — the longest lead time of any city in OC
• **Size limit:** Inflatables cannot exceed 15 x 20 feet
• Equipment must be hand-carted in — no driving vehicles onto park grounds
• Generator required
• **Sound limit:** Amplified sound allowed 9 AM - 10 PM, not exceeding 55 decibels

Contact: City of Orange Parks & Facility Permits office

Newport Beach

• **Permit fee:** $5 administrative fee plus reservation fee
• **Timeline:** Allow at least 10 business days
• **Summer restriction:** Bounce houses are not allowed at Peninsula Park during summer months
• Vendor insurance must be on file with the Recreation & Senior Services Department before any permit is issued

Contact: (949) 644-3151 or recreation@newportbeachca.gov

Costa Mesa

Costa Mesa has the most specific placement rules of any city in OC:

• Permit required for gatherings of 10 or more people
• **Size limit:** 15 x 15 feet maximum
• No water slides allowed
• **Setback rules:**
• **Vendor requirements:** Current Costa Mesa business license and Certificate of Insurance

Contact: (714) 754-5300 or cmparksupport@costamesaca.gov

Lake Forest

• Bounce House Application required — submit at least 30 days before your event
• Must book a Park Shelter Reservation first before applying for the bounce house permit
• Must use a vendor from the city's preferred vendor list only — no outside vendors
• No bounce houses at Lake Forest Sports Park

Contact: Visit lakeforestca.gov

Fullerton

• Bounce houses only allowed at Adlena Park and Hillcrest Park with a facility reservation permit
• Parties of 25+ guests require a facility reservation
• Additional fee applies (contact city for current amount)
• Generator required

Mission Viejo

• Permit required — contact the recreation department for current fees and process
• Generator required

Contact: (949) 470-3000 or recreation@cityofmissionviejo.org

Santa Ana

• Park permit required
• Non-refundable $50 deposit for all park bookings
• Additional fees for park entry and generator

Buena Park

Buena Park has an unusual rule: generators are not allowed on city parks. Since bounce houses need a constant power source, this creates a real challenge. Contact the city directly to discuss your options.

Contact: (714) 562-3860

Across all of Orange County, the insurance standard for bounce house vendors is basically the same:

• $1,000,000 general liability per occurrence
• $2,000,000 annual aggregate
• The city or county must be named as additional insured on the policy
• Workers' compensation insurance required
• Certificate of Insurance must be on file before the event

This is why you can't just bring your own bounce house to a public park. The cities and county require proof of commercial insurance that individual owners don't carry. When you rent from a licensed vendor like us, we handle all of this for you.

One thing that surprises many people: California does not regulate inflatable bounce houses as amusement rides. The state's Amusement Rides Safety Law covers mechanical rides but specifically excludes inflatables. There are no federal regulations either.

This means all the rules come from local cities and counties. That's why the rules vary so much from one city to the next in Orange County.

Nearly every park in Orange County requires your bounce house vendor to bring a generator. Park electrical outlets are off-limits for inflatables across the board. Here's what to know:

• Minimum 3,500 watts is the standard requirement
• Don't plug anything else into the generator when a blower is connected
• Quiet/inverter generators are strongly recommended to keep the noise down
• When you rent from a professional vendor, the generator is included with your delivery

This varies by city:

• **Huntington Beach:** No stakes allowed — sandbags or water buckets only (underground irrigation)
• **Most other cities:** Ground stakes are allowed on grass areas
• **Hard surfaces:** Always require sandbags (typically 50 lbs each)

Your vendor should know the rules for your specific park and bring the right anchoring equipment.

If your neighborhood has an HOA park, the rules are different — and usually simpler:

• No city permit required
• Your HOA may require proof of vendor insurance
• Some HOAs want to be named as additional insured
• You'll need written approval from your HOA management company
• HOA parks often have noise and time restrictions

In cities like Anaheim where city parks ban bounce houses entirely, HOA parks are your best alternative.

Due to access restrictions and park-specific rules, there are certain parks where inflatable rentals are not possible. Always confirm with your vendor that they can deliver to your chosen park before you book.

1. 1Book early. Some cities require 30-60 days advance notice for permits. Don't wait until the last week.
2. 2Know your park type. Is it a city park or an OC regional park? The permit process is completely different.
3. 3Confirm your spot. A bounce house permit doesn't always guarantee a specific area. Arrive early to claim your space.
4. 4Plan for pickup by 6 PM. Most park rentals need to be wrapped up by 6:00 PM.
5. 5Let your vendor handle insurance. A licensed rental company will have all the required insurance and can provide certificates to the park office.
6. 6Tell your vendor the park name and area. They need to know the exact location for delivery, setup, and generator placement.
7. 7Bring sandbags if you're in Huntington Beach. Or better yet, rent from a vendor who knows the local rules and comes prepared.

We handle the logistics so you can focus on the fun. Every rental includes a generator, proper insurance, and a team that knows the rules at parks across Orange County. Browse our bounce houses, water slides, and party extras — and let us know which park you're planning to use.