Aiken County, SC Curfew Laws: Park Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Unstaffed park hours (fall/winter)
- 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Oct 1 to Mar 31
- Unstaffed park hours (spring/summer)
- 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Apr 1 to Sep 30
- Staffed park hours
- Sunrise to 11:00 p.m. (§16-2(b)(23))
- Who can shorten hours
- Director, parks, recreation and tourism
- Default penalty
- Up to $200 fine or 30 days jail (§1-8)
- Adopted
- Ord. No. 17-08-32, Aug. 15, 2017
Summary
Unstaffed Aiken County parks close to the public every night: Section 16-5 limits access to 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. from October through March and 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. from April through September. Staffed parks instead run from sunrise to 11:00 p.m. under Section 16-2(b)(23), and using a park outside its hours is a criminal offense.
All county parks and recreational centers that do not have staff employee by the department of parks, recreation and tourism located at the park shall be open for use or access by the public only between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. from October 1 to March 31 and the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. from April 1 to September 30 and shall be closed to use or access by the public at all other times...It shall be unlawful for any person to use or access these parks and recreational centers other than during the hours specified in this section. Any such violations of the provisions of this sections shall be deemed an offense punishable under as provided in section 1-8 of the Aiken County Code.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 119).
Full Breakdown
Section 16-5, 'Hours of use of and access to certain parks,' governs any county park or recreational center that does not have a department of parks, recreation and tourism employee stationed on site. from April 1 through September 30; they are closed to public use and access at every other hour. The director of parks, recreation and tourism can shorten those hours further for exigent circumstances, such as storm damage or a safety hazard. The code makes clear this is a genuine curfew and not just a posted courtesy: it is unlawful for any person to use or access these parks or recreational centers outside the specified hours, and a violation is an offense punishable under Section 1-8 of the Aiken County Code.
unless a scheduled activity is already in progress, and camping is allowed only in designated areas with the parks director's written approval. Both provisions were most recently amended by Ordinance No. 17-08-32, adopted August 15, 2017, which added Section 16-5 as a standalone hours-of-access rule alongside the pre-existing park rules and regulations in Section 16-2.
Violations & Fines
Using or accessing an unstaffed county park outside its posted hours is 'deemed an offense punishable under as provided in section 1-8 of the Aiken County Code,' Aiken County's general penalty clause. Section 1-8 sets a default fine of up to $200.00 or up to thirty days' imprisonment for any Code violation lacking its own specific penalty, and each additional day the violation continues counts as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do Aiken County parks close?
Is it actually illegal to be in an Aiken County park after hours?
Can the county shorten park hours further?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Aiken County
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