Courts.tennis
Do you need a permit to play tennis in New York City?
Yes, for daytime play on a public court. A season permit costs $100 if you are 18 to 61, $20 at 62 and over, and $10 under 18. Most courts in the city you simply walk on to. A few take a booking.
What a permit costs
One permit covers the season across the whole parks system, not one court. The price depends on your age, which is the part most write-ups leave out.
| Who | Full season |
|---|---|
| Adults 18 to 61 | $100 |
| Seniors 62 and over | $20 |
| Under 18 | $10 |
| One hour, single play | $15 |
IDNYC holders get 10% off the full-season adult fee. The permit season runs the first Saturday in April to the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Prices read from the City on 2026-08-07.
Can you reserve a court?
At most places, no. Of the 111 places to play in New York City, 92 are public parks you walk on to: turn up, put your name down, wait your turn. 7 are public parks that take a City reservation, bookable a limited number of days ahead and never the same day, at $15 per court per hour on top of your permit. The remaining 12 are clubs and centres that run their own booking and their own prices, with no City permit involved.
When do you not need one?
- At a club or indoor centre. Those run their own membership and booking.
- On land the City does not run. Hudson River Park is Trust land and Riverbank is a State park, so a NYC Parks permit does not apply at either.
- Outside permit hours at some courts. Hours vary by site rather than citywide.
What we can and cannot tell you
The prices above are read from the City’s own permits page and dated. The season and the daily hours are not citywide facts: they vary by court, and NYC Parks serves its pages behind a filter that blocks everything except a browser, so we have not been able to quote them first-hand. Rather than repeat one park’s hours as though they were the city’s, we send you to the source.
NYC Parks tennis permits