Berkeley, CA Curfew Laws: Park Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Default closure
- 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- Lighted parks closure
- 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- Governing law
- BMC § 6.32.020
- Penalty class
- Infraction under Ch. 1.20
- Posted hours override default
- Yes, per park
- Enforcing department
- Berkeley Police Department
Summary
Berkeley closes its city parks overnight unless a posted sign says otherwise. Default closure runs 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., extended to 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. in parks with user-operated lighting, and entering or remaining during closure hours is an infraction under BMC Chapter 6.32.
A. No person shall enter upon or otherwise remain within City parks, or portions thereof, between the hours or for the period specifically posted as closure hours at the entrance to the particular park and, where applicable, adjacent to any portion of a park being closed. B. Where no hours are posted, a park shall be closed between the hours of ten p.m. and six a.m., except that parks equipped with user operated lights shall be closed between the hours of eleven p.m. and six a.m.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 8031-NS, passed July 28, 2026).
Full Breakdown
32 sets park hours citywide. 020 makes closure hours park-specific: where the City has posted closure hours at a park entrance, those posted hours govern. instead. 020(A)-(B). 040, though the Recreation, Parks and Community Services Department may permit sponsored programs to run later if they do not unreasonably disturb the neighborhood. 030, and posted signs or permit conditions carry the same force as the chapter itself: ignoring a properly posted restriction is a separate violation. 080. 070.
Violations & Fines
Entering or remaining in a Berkeley park during closed hours, whether the default 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. window or a posted closure, is an infraction under BMC Section 6.32.100, punishable as set out in Chapter 1.20 of the code. Producing loud or offensive park noise between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. under Section 6.32.040 is a separate violation of the same chapter.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do Berkeley parks close?
Can a specific Berkeley park have different hours than the default?
What happens if I'm caught in a Berkeley park after closing?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Berkeley
California rules heatmap·Compare Berkeley to another location·View the California curfew laws overview
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Park Curfew in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Alameda County handle park curfew.