Picnic Rentals

Please see below the summarized by-laws that outline the general rules of all City of Sarnia Parks. More details can be found in the Parks By-Law. Some exceptions may apply to special events and will require written permission in a permit.

Anyone found to be violating the below by-laws may be ticketed and/or removed from the Park.

Picnics and Other Permits:

• Exclusive use is granted only to those with a paid and approved permit within the constraints of the details of said permit as issued by the City of Sarnia.
• Any person may be required to show proof of said permit to any City of Sarnia employee.

Animals (Wildlife and Pets):

• No animals aside from dogs can be brought to a park.
• Dogs must be always kept on-leash, except within a designated off-leash dog park (Germain).
• Dogs are not allowed on any city beach.
• Dog faeces or “poop” must be immediately picked up and disposed of in a designated garbage can or taken home to be disposed of properly.

Garbage and Waste:

• No garbage or waste of any kind can be left anywhere in any city park, beach, or body of water.
• It is requested that individuals bring their garbage home to dispose of, to follow a “Leave No Trace” model. If this is not possible, then garbage must be disposed of in a designated waste or recycle can/bin.
• Cooking grease from B.B.Q.’s and/or any food waste must be disposed of properly by taking it home or disposing of it in a designated waste or recycle can/bin.

B.B.Q.’s and Fires:

• Residential BBQ’s that can be carried to a green space are allowed.
  • Staff will NOT unlock gates to unload, and vehicles are NOT permitted to drive off a roadway/parking lot to unload.
  • No commercial or industrial BBQ’s are allowed.
• BBQ’s and/or cooking is NOT allowed on any public beach space.
• Cooking grease from B.B.Q.’s and/or any food waste must be disposed of properly by taking it home or disposing of it in a designated waste or recycle can/bin. Absolutely no grease of food waste can be dumped in any park space, or in any beach space including in surrounding beach grass, etc.
• No fires of any kind are allowed in any park or beach space, unless written within a permit and within in a designated fire pit.

Vehicles and Parking:

• No vehicles larger than a standard “pick-up” type vehicle are allowed on a park roadway.
• No driving any vehicle on any area except the designated roadways that are open to the public.
• Vehicles driven on any green space without written permission will be fined and individuals will be responsible for any damage or repair fees to the parkland.
• No parking on the roadways, or in a way that blocks traffic.
• No parking on any green space, or where it is not a designated parking area.
• No parking after park hours (midnight-5am).

Recreational Vehicles (Water and Land):

• No water vehicles of any kind are allowed on Lake Chipican.
• No motorized water vehicles are permitted close to the beach shore, or where people may be swimming, including but not limited to the designated lifeguarded section of Canatara Beach.
• No camping is allowed in any park space, whether it be in a tent or a vehicle of any kind.
• No camping is allowed in any parking space within a city park.
• No recreational vehicles including RVs, Trailers Campers, etc. are allowed in the park for any reason.

Alcohol:

• No person shall have in any alcoholic beverages in any park space, unless an event/rental permit with an A.G.C.O. Special Occasion Permit has been obtained.
• Any Police or By-Law Officer or employee may exclude and/or remove any person who is disorderly and/or drunken.

Decorating/Posters:

• No posters, notices, advertisements, etc. are allowed to be posted in any city park, unless written permission is obtained within a permit.
• With written permission, no such items can be nailed or fastened to any park space that may cause damage.

Disorderly Behaviour:

• Any Police or By-Law Officer or employee may exclude and/or remove any person who is disorderly and/or drunken.
• Any Police or By-Law Officer or employee may exclude and/or remove any person who is in violation of the Parks By-Law.

Please refer to the Parks By-law and/or any other applicable City of Sarnia Laws and By-Laws for more information.

All Permit Holders must obtain general liability insurance either via the City of Sarnia’s external User Group Program OR via a “Liability Insurance Policy” with an insurance company of their choice.

The “Liability Insurance Policy” must be in an amount of not less than two million dollars ($2,000,000.00) covering each occurrence within the rental permit. Proof of the Liability Insurance Policy must be submitted as a Certificate of Insurance (COI) and shall: (a) be placed with a reputable insurer which is licensed to carry on business in Ontario and which is acceptable to the City; (b) include as an additional insured “The Corporation of the City of Sarnia” and its representatives and employees; (c) include bodily injury, property damage, and personal liability coverage; (d) contain a separation of insureds and cross-liability clause; (e) provide that it will not be cancelled or materially altered without at least sixty (60) days prior written notice to the City delivered to the Community Services Division.

A summary of the City’s User Group Program insurance fees are listed below. Please keep in mind that fees may vary depending on the rental and other information provided. The below is simply a reference tool.

User Group Program Fees:

• Children’s Event
  • Includes – Children’s Birthday Parties
  • Lowest Fee – $2.20 (Per Hour)

• Family Event
  • Includes – Family Showers, Family Christenings, Family Dinners, Family Picnics, and Retirements.
  • Fee (1-100 people) – $25.50 (per day)
  • Fee (101-250 people) – $51.00 (per day)

• Other Private Event:
  • Includes – Anniversaries, banquet, adult birthday parties, dinners, weddings, graduation, photo shoots, non-family picnics, music and dance recitals/performances, dance and talent shows, corporate events (including appreciation events, volunteer events, etc.), reunions.
  • Fee (1-100 people) – $51.00 (per day)
  • Fee (101-250 people) – $102.00 (per day)

*These fees are NOT determined by the City and are outlined by the User Group Policy provided to the City by the insurance company.