Santa Cruz County, CA Curfew Laws: Park Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- SCCC § 10.04.060
- Who sets hours
- Director, Parks, Open Space & Cultural Services
- Posting required
- At or near each park entrance
- Re-entry ban
- Barred until 8:00 a.m. next day
- Default penalty
- Misdemeanor, up to $1,000 / 6 months
- Applies to
- Unincorporated County parks only
Summary
Santa Cruz County has no single closing time posted in ordinance for every park. Santa Cruz County Code § 10.04.060 puts that decision with the Director of Parks, Open Space and Cultural Services, who sets the hours of use for each county park and must post them at or near the entrance, so Aptos, Soquel, Live Oak, Felton, Ben Lomond and Boulder Creek residents see different posted hours park to park.
The Director shall designate the hours for the use of the parks. The Director shall post the hours of use at or near the entrance of each park.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 5004302; v11 updated 2026-05-19; through 05-19-2026).
Full Breakdown
020(F) is broad: it covers every park, riding and hiking trail, recreation area, beach, community center, historic structure and other County-controlled land, in either incorporated or unincorporated territory. 060, the Director designates the hours for the use of the parks and must post those hours at or near the entrance of each park, which is why the closing time at a beach access point differs from a mountain trailhead. 030(A) requires every visitor to comply with posted regulations along with all other applicable laws. the following day.
300 during a flood, fire, earthquake or other calamity, or when overcrowding or civil disorder creates a hazard; anyone who willfully remains in an area closed under that section, after being told to evacuate, is guilty of a misdemeanor. Because this title governs only County-operated parks, the posted-hours rule does not reach the separately run park systems of the incorporated cities of Santa Cruz, Capitola, Watsonville and Scotts Valley; it applies to County facilities serving unincorporated communities such as Aptos, Soquel, Live Oak, Felton, Ben Lomond and Boulder Creek. 310.
Violations & Fines
Refusing a peace officer's order to leave, or returning to a County park before 8:00 a.m. the day after being ordered out under § 10.04.030(C), is enforced as disorderly conduct. Because that section states no penalty of its own, a violation falls back under § 1.12.010 to the code's default: a misdemeanor punishable under § 1.12.030 by up to six months in County jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. Willfully remaining in a park closed for an emergency under § 10.04.300 is a misdemeanor outright, carrying the same maximum penalty.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do Santa Cruz County parks close?
What happens if I'm in a county park after hours?
Does this rule cover parks in the City of Santa Cruz?
Can the County close a park entirely in an emergency?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Cruz County
California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Cruz County to another location·View the California curfew laws overview
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