Alachua County, FL Curfew Laws: Park Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Alachua County Code § 76.4(a)
- Closing authority
- Dept. sets and posts hours per park
- Extra power
- Closure once carrying capacity is reached
- Enforcing agency
- Sheriff's Office / Parks Dept.
- Penalty
- § 76.7 plus trespass/ejectment remedies
Summary
Alachua County parks close to the public on hours the Parks and Open Spaces Department sets and posts, and § 76.4(a) makes it unlawful to be or remain in a park after closing without special authorization. The department can close a whole park, part of a park, or limit it to certain uses at any time.
(a)Closing of parks.(1)It shall be unlawful for any person to be or remain in any park during the hours the park is closed to public use, unless such person has special authorization from the department authorizing that person to remain in the park.(2)The department may close any park or section thereof to the public at any time and for any interval of time, either temporarily or at regular and stated intervals, and entirely or merely to certain uses. Further, the department is authorized to limit, in whole or in part, a park or park property during the open hours of operation notwithstanding the fact that public access may be limited.(3)The department may designate carrying capacities for any park or section thereof and is authorized to close any park or section thereof when carrying capacity is reached.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 63).
Full Breakdown
Rather than fixing one countywide curfew hour in the code itself, § 76.4(a) gives the Alachua County Parks and Open Spaces Department the authority to set and post closing hours for each park, and to close a park or any section of it, temporarily, at regular intervals, entirely, or just for certain uses, whenever it decides to. The department is also authorized to set carrying capacities for a park or section of a park and to close it once that capacity is reached, which the code uses during high-traffic events like fishing tournaments and crowded swimming areas.
Once a park is posted closed, staying inside it is unlawful under § 76.4(a)(1) unless the visitor holds special authorization, a license agreement, rental agreement, permit, or other written approval from the department covering that specific time. Entrance rules reinforce the closing power: visitors must use designated entrance points except in an emergency, pay any posted admission fee, and stop fully at any entrance station. A person who remains in a closed park without authorization is treated the same as someone loitering after hours anywhere else on county property and can be ordered to leave or cited.
Violations & Fines
Being in a park after closing without authorization is enforced by the county manager's designee, the Alachua County Sheriff's Office, or any other law enforcement officer with jurisdiction, under § 76.7. Violators are punished as provided in Section 10.08 of the Alachua County Code, and the county may also seek a trespass warning, injunctive relief, ejectment from the park, or debarment from future park use.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do Alachua County parks close?
Can I get in trouble for being in a county park after hours?
Does the county ever close a park early for other reasons?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Alachua County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Alachua County to another location·View the Florida curfew laws overview
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