Kitsap County, WA Curfew Laws: Park Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- KCC § 10.12.040, Park hours
- Hours set by
- Signage posted at each park
- Special closures
- Director may close parks for events/maintenance
- Max penalty
- $1,000 fine and/or 90 days jail
- Applies to
- Unincorporated county park system only
Summary
Kitsap County does not set a single countywide park curfew by ordinance. Instead, KCC § 10.12.040 leaves each park's open hours to the posted signage set by the county's park director, who can also close a park or a portion of it for special events or maintenance.
Except for unusual and unforeseen circumstances, parks will be open to the public during designated hours as posted therein. Exclusive use of a park or part of a park for some special purpose or event, or the closing of a park for an interval of time entirely or to certain uses may be allowed as the park director may find necessary.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4864424; v0 updated 2025-12-08; through 12-08-2025).
Full Breakdown
030. 040, "Park hours - Uses of parks": parks are open to the public during hours posted at each site, with an exception for unusual and unforeseen circumstances. The director may also grant exclusive use of a park or part of a park for a special purpose or event, and may close a park entirely, or close certain uses, for an interval of time whenever the director finds it necessary. Because the ordinance delegates the specific opening and closing times to posted signs rather than fixing a single hour in the code, the closing time differs from park to park.
170, which makes it unlawful to violate or fail to comply with any duly posted park rule or regulation and authorizes the park director or a park attendant to eject a violator on the spot. The chapter dates to Ordinance 6 of 1971. This authority applies only to county-operated parks in unincorporated Kitsap County; Bremerton, Port Orchard, Poulsbo and Bainbridge Island set their own park hours for their own park systems.
Violations & Fines
Failing to leave a park after posted closing hours, or otherwise violating a posted park rule, is a misdemeanor under § 10.12.190, punished under the county's general penalty section, § 1.12.010: a fine of not more than $1,000, imprisonment of up to 90 days, or both, with each day of a continuing violation charged as a separate offense. Park staff or the park director may also eject a violator immediately under § 10.12.170.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do Kitsap County parks close?
Can Kitsap County close a park for a private event?
What happens if someone stays in a county park after it closes?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kitsap County
Compare Kitsap County to another location·View the Washington curfew laws overview
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