Frederick, MD Curfew Laws: Park Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Default park hours
- Closed 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
- City Hall Park hours
- Closed midnight to 5:00 a.m.
- Carroll Creek Linear Park
- Never closes
- Offense class
- Misdemeanor
- Maximum penalty
- $100 fine and/or 90 days jail
Summary
Frederick closes its parks overnight: most shut at 10:00 p.m. and reopen at 5:00 a.m., with City Hall Park closing at midnight and Carroll Creek Linear Park staying open around the clock. Being present after hours is a misdemeanor under City Code Sec. 6-16.
(a)Generally. Except as otherwise provided in this section, an individual may not be present in any park when it is closed.(b)Open hours. With the exception of City Hall Park and Carroll Creek Linear Park, all parks are closed between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. City Hall Park is closed between 12:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. Carroll Creek Linear Park does not close.(d)Penalty. Violation of this section is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $100 or by imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or by both a fine and incarceration in the discretion of the court.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Land Management Code: Supplement 13 | Code of Ordinances: Supplement 112).
Full Breakdown
Section 6-16 of the City Code makes it unlawful for an individual to be present in any park when it is closed. " The section carves out an exception for people merely passing through: where a park contains dedicated streets or paths used for general vehicular, pedestrian, or bicycle travel (not just access to the park's interior), the closure does not stop someone from traveling through on that dedicated route. This lets commuters and cyclists use through-streets or paths inside parks like Baker Park after hours without violating the curfew, so long as they are not lingering or using the interior recreation areas.
Enforcement falls to Frederick Police, who can cite anyone found inside a closed park outside the travel exception. The Parks and Recreation Division (through the Deputy Director) manages hours and any posted signage, while the ordinance itself, not signage, is what creates the legal closure. Because the rule sits in Article IV, "Use and Operation of Parks," of Chapter 6, it applies City-wide to all City-owned park property, not just flagship parks, and works alongside related Article V prohibitions (alcohol, smoking, camping) that also govern conduct on the same properties after and during open hours.
Violations & Fines
Violating the park-hours rule is a misdemeanor, not a municipal infraction. Sec. 6-16(d) sets the penalty at a fine of up to $100, imprisonment for up to 90 days, or both, at the court's discretion. Each instance of being present in a closed park is charged separately; the through-travel exception is a full defense if the person was only using a dedicated street or path.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I walk through a Frederick park after 10 p.m.?
Is Carroll Creek Linear Park ever closed?
What happens if I'm caught in a closed park in Frederick?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Frederick
Compare Frederick to another location·View the Maryland curfew laws overview
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