Cathedral City, CA Curfew Laws: Park Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Prohibited hours
- Between ten p.m. and dawn of the following day
- Prohibited acts
- Remain, stay or loiter in a public park or recreation area
- Exception one
- Gathering with a permit or sponsored by the city
- Exception two
- Lawful overnight stay at a designated place
- Fines
- $250 first, $500 second, $750 third, $1,000 fourth and later
- Ejected person
- Cannot return to the same park that calendar day
Summary
In Cathedral City, no person can remain, stay or loiter in any public park or recreation area between ten p.m. and dawn of the following day. The exceptions are attending a permitted or city-sponsored gathering and lodging at a designated overnight place, and fines climb from $250 to $1,000 for repeat violations within twelve months.
Within the limits of any public park or recreation area of the city, no person shall: ... I. Camp or lodge therein at any time, or otherwise remain overnight, whether or not in a structure permanently affixed to the ground, except at a place especially designated and provided for such purpose; ... T. Remain, stay or loiter therein between the hours of ten p.m. and dawn of the following day, except while attending a gathering or meeting for which a permit has been issued or which is being sponsored or conducted by the city. This subsection shall not apply to persons lawfully lodging, camping or otherwise remaining overnight at a place especially designated and provided for such purposes;
Full Breakdown
The park curfew in Cathedral City is written as a ban on presence rather than a posted closing time. Under § 11.44.060(T), within the limits of any public park or recreation area, no person shall remain, stay or loiter there between the hours of ten p.m. and dawn of the following day. Two exceptions are printed. The first covers a person attending a gathering or meeting for which a permit has been issued, or which is being sponsored or conducted by the city. The second says the subsection does not apply to persons lawfully lodging, camping or otherwise remaining overnight at a place especially designated and provided for that purpose.
Camping has its own prohibition that runs around the clock. Subsection I bars anyone from camping or lodging in a park at any time, or otherwise remaining overnight, whether or not in a structure permanently affixed to the ground, except at a place especially designated and provided for that purpose.
Chapter 11.44 covers all park and recreation areas under city control, including grounds, roadways, avenues, parks, buildings, and school facilities when they are in use as recreational facilities (§ 11.44.010). The city manager or the chief of police can close a park or any part of it to the public in an emergency, or when public safety, public health, public morals or the public interest demands it. Anyone who knows of a closure order must leave immediately and stay out until the area is reopened by order of proper authority (§ 11.44.030). The city manager can also adopt park rules, and no person with knowledge of a rule can disobey it or a posted sign or notice implementing it (§ 11.44.050).
Enforcement is by ejection or citation. The city manager, the manager's authorized representatives and park attendants can eject and expel a violator, and a peace officer can eject instead of arresting or citing. A person ejected cannot refuse to leave and cannot return to the same park, recreation area or building during that calendar day unless permitted by the person who ejected them or the city manager or an authorized representative (§ 11.44.020).
Violations & Fines
Each separate violation of chapter 11.44 is subject to a fine not to exceed $250 for a first violation, $500 for a second violation within a twelve-month period from the date of the first, and $750 for the third. The fine for a fourth and any later violation within that twelve-month period is $1,000 (§ 11.44.130). Refusing to leave when ejected, or returning that calendar day, is a separate violation under § 11.44.020(B).
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do Cathedral City parks close?
Can I stay in a Cathedral City park after ten p.m. for an event?
Is overnight camping allowed in Cathedral City parks?
What are the fines for breaking Cathedral City park rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cathedral City
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How other cities in Riverside County handle park curfew.