Buena Park, CA Curfew Laws: Park Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 12.04.020.M, Chapter 12.04
- Curfew hours
- 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., daily
- Covers
- Parks, playgrounds, pools, courts, trails, lots
- Permit exception
- Written permit from city council or department
- Emergency closure
- § 12.04.070, director may close early
- Vehicle-specific rule
- § 10.24.055 separately bars parking, same hours
Summary
Buena Park Municipal Code § 12.04.020.M closes every city park to the public between eleven p.m. and six a.m. unless the city council or recreation department has issued a written permit. It's one of twenty-two activities barred inside city parks without a permit, alongside rules on pets, amplified sound, fires and vendors.
Except as specifically authorized by written permit issued by the city council or the department, within the limits of any park in the city no person shall: ... M. Enter or remain in any park between the hours of eleven p.m. and six a.m.
Full Breakdown
020 opens with a blanket rule: except as specifically authorized by written permit issued by the city council or the department, within the limits of any park in the city no person shall engage in a list of activities running from A through V. m. 010 to include every public park, roadside rest area, playground or other recreational facility, along with any parking lot, pool, court, field, bridle path or trail the city owns, manages or controls, so the curfew reaches parking lots and trails attached to a park, not just the lawn.
, using amplified sound outside a designated area, and building unlit fires outside a stove, hearth or department-provided barbecue. 070 lets the department director close any park entirely, even outside curfew hours, during an emergency or when public health, safety or morals require it, with the closure lifting once the city manager or council determines the reason has passed. 04 penalty scheme covering both misdemeanor and infraction prosecution. window.
Violations & Fines
Entering or remaining in a Buena Park park between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. without a written city permit, like other Chapter 12.04 violations, has no dedicated fine and defaults to the general Chapter 1.04 scheme: an infraction starting at $100 and rising to $500 for repeat violations within a year, or a misdemeanor carrying up to $1,000 and six months in jail.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do Buena Park's parks close?
Can Buena Park close a park before 11 p.m.?
What's the penalty for being in a Buena Park park after curfew?
Does the park curfew also apply to cars parked in the lot?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Buena Park
California rules heatmap·Compare Buena Park to another location·View the California curfew laws overview
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Park Curfew in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Orange County handle park curfew.