Federal Way, WA Curfew Laws: Park Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Closing time
- Dusk (30 min after sunset)
- Reopening time
- 5:00 a.m. or dawn, later applies
- First-time expulsion range
- 1 to 7 days
- Repeat expulsion range
- 7 days to 1 year
- Enforcing office
- Parks director / Federal Way police
- Default fine
- Up to $1,000, 90 days jail
Summary
Federal Way parks close at dusk and reopen at 5:00 a.m. or dawn, whichever is later. Anyone in a park during closed hours can be expelled and, if issued a written trespass notice, arrested for trespass on return.
It is unlawful to enter or be in any park during park closed hours and in no case after dusk of any day, or before 5:00 a.m. or dawn of any day, whichever is later, unless otherwise permitted by the director for a special occasion; provided, the director may establish special park closure hours, for specific parks or areas within parks, if the director determines that such special park closure hours are necessary or appropriate to protect public property, protect public safety, prevent public nuisances, prevent breaches of the peace or for special events. Special park closure hours shall be indicated by appropriate signs. Any person(s) in a park during closed hours may be expelled pursuant to FWRC 4.05.050.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 26-1049, passed August 11, 2026).
Full Breakdown
or dawn, whichever is later, unless the parks director permits entry for a special occasion. The director can also set special closure hours for specific parks or areas, for reasons including protecting public property, protecting public safety, preventing nuisances or breaches of the peace, or accommodating special events; special hours must be posted with signs. 010 defines dusk as 30 minutes after sunset and dawn as 30 minutes before sunrise, so the effective curfew shifts with the season. 050 for one to seven days for a first violation of the chapter, or seven days to one year if the person has already been expelled twice within 30 days or commits more than one violation within 12 months.
Expulsion orders must be in writing, sent by certified mail or delivered in person, and the director can forward the order to the Federal Way police department as a notice of trespass; anyone who then knowingly returns to city park property during the expulsion period commits trespass in addition to the underlying park violation. 045(1) separately makes it unlawful for a vehicle to be in a park during closed hours except on authorized city business.
Violations & Fines
FWRC 4.05.040 makes any violation of the park chapter unlawful, and FWRC 1.10.010 sets the default penalty at a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 fine, up to 90 days in jail, or both, with each day of continuation a separate offense. Beyond that criminal exposure, after-hours presence can trigger expulsion under FWRC 4.05.050 and, if the person returns during the expulsion period after written notice, a separate trespass charge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Federal Way close a single park earlier than dusk?
What happens the second time someone is caught in a Federal Way park after hours?
Is driving into a Federal Way park after closing a separate violation from just walking in?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Federal Way
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Park Curfew in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle park curfew.