Policies and Tips
Please review the following policies and tips before submitting a rental inquiry.
Hours: Garden venues are available for rental seven days a week from dawn till dusk. Outdoor events must be concluded by nightfall. Indoor room venues are available for rental seven days a week from 7:00 am to midnight. Holidays may have some limitations.
Please note that rental hours should include the time you need for decorations, catering setups, and other prep work, as well as cleanup time.
Parking: Free parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis in the Arboretum parking lot and along Beryl Road in marked parking spaces only. See map for more information. The Arboretum parking lot may not be reserved for special events.
Accessibility: The JCRA's gardens are handicapped assessable via wide paths of various materials that are suitable for wheelchairs and walkers. The A. E. Findley Rooftop Garden is ADA accessible.
Alcohol: Per NC State University policy, all alcohol service is strictly limited to 2 hours, has to be served by a professional bartender, and needs to be accompanied by substantial food. Once those qualifications are met, then it will need to be approved by our director. Send the form to the rental coordinator at jcrarentals@ncsu.edu for the approval. NC State University groups must have their alcohol approval forms signed by their respective deans.
Music: Non-amplified music is welcome in the gardens. Prior permission from the JCRA is required for amplified music in any venue.
Games: No bicycling, skating, skateboarding, roller-blading, kites or sporting games (footballs, frisbees, etc) are allowed. Please ask the rental coordinator for special exceptions.
In indoor venues, amplified music and dancing are allowed provided they would not interfere with any other events.
Decorations: No open flames, sparklers, confetti, grains, birdseed, balloons, tape, glitter, or sequins are allowed in gardens or rental rooms as they could threaten the birds, insects, and other living things that make our gardens so special.
Food: All plans for caterers must be approved in advance.
Rainy weather: If you want to be certain you have a dry place for your guests, please consider reserving space indoors as a backup plan.
Discounts: We are able to offer discounts to NC State University and some nonprofit groups. Please inquire.
Cancellations and refunds: If cancellation occurs 60 or more days prior to scheduled event date for a garden reservation, or 30 days prior to scheduled event date for a McSwain Center reservation, 50% of the reservation deposit will be refunded.
For NC State University clients, a cancellation fee equal to one hour's full rental rate will be charged for reservations canceled less than 30 days prior to the event.
Weather emergencies: For the safety of staff and visitors, the JCRA gardens will be closed to rentals during status 1–3 adverse weather conditions and JCRA rooms will be closed to rentals during status 1–3 adverse weather conditions as defined and announced by NC State University.
If rescheduling a rental affected by these NC State University defined adverse weather conditions is not possible, all rental fees paid will be refunded less 15%. Cancellations by the licensee due to inclement weather are nonrefundable. Rescheduling in these circumstances will be considered.