Cherokee County, GA Curfew Laws: Park Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Default hours
- sunrise to 11:00 p.m.
- Field/court lights off
- by 11:00 p.m.
- Facilities with separate hours
- Aquatic Center, Rec Center, Union Hill, Waleska Splash Pad
- After-hours entry
- requires written permit or scheduled program
- Scope
- unincorporated Cherokee County parks
Summary
Cherokee County closes its parks and recreation facilities each night at 11:00 p.m., running from sunrise, under Code § 42-49. Being in a park outside its posted hours without a permit or an authorized scheduled program is unlawful, and exterior field and court lights must go dark by 11:00 p.m. too.
Sec. 42-49. Hours of operation. (a)The hours of operation for all park or recreation facilities except those outlined in subsection (b) shall be from sunrise to 11:00 p.m. Exterior athletic field and court lights shall be extinguished by 11:00 p.m. except to conclude scheduled recreation or sporting events in progress prior to 11:00 p.m.(b)The director will have the authority to establish the hours and days of operation for the Cherokee County Aquatic Center, Recreation Center, Union Hill Community Center, and Waleska Splash Pad.(c)The hours of operation shall be posted at each park or recreation facility. It shall be unlawful for any person to enter or be within a park or recreation facility outside of the posted hours of operation unless approved by written permit or unless such person is participating in an authorized and scheduled program, class, special event or meeting.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 39 | Zoning: Supplement 35).
Full Breakdown
unless needed to finish a scheduled recreation or sporting event already underway. Subsection (b) hands the Recreation and Parks Agency director authority to set separate hours and days of operation for named facilities with different needs: the Cherokee County Aquatic Center, Recreation Center, Union Hill Community Center, and the Waleska Splash Pad. Subsection (c) requires the operating hours to be posted at each facility and makes it unlawful for anyone to enter or remain in a park or recreation facility outside its posted hours, unless the person has a written permit or is taking part in an authorized and scheduled program, class, special event, or meeting.
The curfew sits inside the same Parks and Recreation article (§§ 42-36 through 42-58) that separately regulates alcohol, animals, camping, commercial activity, firearms, fires, vehicles, smoking, detection devices, drones, and wheeled recreation equipment in county parks, all enforceable by any authorized county law enforcement officer under § 42-38.
Violations & Fines
Being present in a park outside posted hours without authorization violates § 42-49(c) and is punishable under the general parks-article penalty at § 1-12 (§ 42-39(a)). A conviction also bars the violator from obtaining any park permit, including field or pavilion rentals, for at least 60 days (§ 42-39(b)).
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do Cherokee County parks close?
Can I be in a Cherokee County park after 11 p.m.?
Does the 11 p.m. park curfew apply to the Aquatic Center?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cherokee County
Compare Cherokee County to another location·View the Georgia curfew laws overview
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