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Bartholomew County, IN Curfew Laws: Park Curfew (2026)

Light Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Open hours
Sunrise to 9:00 p.m.
Override
Posted hours control if different
Fine range
$1 to $500 per violation/day
Governing chapter
Bartholomew County Code Ch. 99
Enforcing body
County Park Board

Summary

County parks, playgrounds and recreation centers in unincorporated Bartholomew County must close to the public every night, staying open only from sunrise until 9:00 p.m. unless a facility posts different hours. Violating the posted curfew or other park rules under Chapter 99 carries a fine of $1 to $500 per day.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Bartholomew County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

All playgrounds, parks and recreational centers of the county shall be open to the public from sunrise to 9:00 p.m. unless otherwise posted. ... (B) (1) Any person who violates any provision of §§ 99.15 through 99.23 shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not less than $1, nor more than $500. If any violation be continuing, each day's violation shall be deemed a separate violation, unless otherwise provided by law.

View official code

Full Breakdown

m. window controls. 17), all enforced by the County Park Board created under Chapter 34. The hours rule dates to Ordinance 1987-08, passed June 29, 1987, and has carried forward unchanged through the code's most recent supplement. Because the ordinance is a curfew on the facility itself rather than on individuals of a particular age, it applies to every visitor equally: being in a county park after the posted closing time is itself the violation, regardless of the visitor's age or purpose for being there.

by posting revised hours at the entrance, which is common for seasonal facilities like Heflen Memorial Park, which the code separately notes opens Memorial Day weekend and closes in mid-October each year.

Violations & Fines

Under § 99.99(B)(1), anyone who violates §§ 99.15 through 99.23, including the park hours rule, faces a fine of not less than $1 nor more than $500 upon conviction. Each day a violation continues counts as a separate offense, so repeated after-hours presence can multiply the fine quickly. Damage caused while unlawfully in a park after hours can also trigger the separate restitution requirement in § 99.19.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time do Bartholomew County parks close?
County parks, playgrounds and recreational centers in unincorporated Bartholomew County close at 9:00 p.m. under § 99.15, reopening at sunrise. Some sites post different hours, such as Heflen Memorial Park's seasonal Memorial-Day-to-mid-October schedule, and any posted hours override the default sunrise-to-9-p.m. window for that facility.
What happens if I'm caught in a county park after hours?
Being present after the posted closing time is itself a violation of Chapter 99. Under § 99.99(B)(1) a conviction carries a fine of $1 to $500, and each day the violation continues is treated as a separate offense, so the penalty can add up quickly for repeat visits.
Do all Bartholomew County parks share the same hours?
No. Section 99.15 sets sunrise to 9:00 p.m. as the default, but it explicitly allows a facility to post different hours. Seasonal parks like Heflen Memorial Park run on their own calendar, so visitors should check posted signage at the specific park rather than assume the default window applies.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Bartholomew County

Parking Rules: Street Parking LimitsLight RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Dog Leash LawsSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Barking DogsLight RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor SoundSignificant RestrictionsParking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesSignificant RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Cat RulesSome Restrictions

All Bartholomew County rules

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