Chattanooga, TN Curfew Laws: Park Curfew (2026)

Chattanooga City Code Sec. 26-19 makes it unlawful for any person to remain upon any public park in the city at night after the hour of 10:30 p.m. prevailing time. The sole exception is for someone attending an organized athletic or social event that takes place in areas lighted for that purpose, that has been previously scheduled through the park director of that park or through the head of the recreation department, and that is supervised by the park director or a designated department employee. Absent that combination, presence in any city park after 10:30 p.m. is itself the violation, regardless of conduct.

Authority over Chattanooga's parks sits with the mayor. Sec. 26-1 gives the mayor charge and general supervision over all parks, playgrounds, public squares and zoological exhibits belonging to the city, and lets the mayor regulate recreational facility use to prioritize city residents and their guests during high-demand hours (for adults over 18 only; the priority rule does not restrict minors' access). Related park-conduct sections in the same chapter reinforce the after-hours posture: Sec. 26-2 bars tearing down or defacing posted park regulations and notices, and Sec. 26-17 separately bans carrying firearms, making fires, possessing alcohol without Public Works approval, and unpermitted vending or soliciting in any park or playground. Coolidge Park carries its own, tighter youth curfew under Sec. 26-18: anyone under 18 may not be in that park between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. unless accompanied by a parent, guardian, or other adult at least 21 with lawful custody.

Because Chapter 26 does not set a stand-alone fine for Sec. 26-19, violations fall under the Code's general penalty provision, Sec. 1-8: a monetary penalty and forfeiture not exceeding $500.00, with each day a violation continues charged as a separate offense.