Glendale, CA Curfew Laws: Park Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Standard park hours
- 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. closed
- High fire-hazard ROS hours
- 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. closed
- Governing section
- GMC Section 9.20.165
- Lawful exceptions
- City business, scheduled activity, written authorization
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor, up to $1,000 fine, 6 months jail
- Enforcing agency
- Glendale Police Department
Summary
Glendale closes every public park, playground and recreation facility from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. under Municipal Code Section 9.20.165. Gated fire-road residential open space in high fire hazard zones closes from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. instead. Only city employees, peace officers, people on scheduled city business, or visitors with written director authorization may remain past closing.
No person, except peace officers and city employees, shall be or remain on, between the hours of ten p.m. on any day and six a.m. of the following day, the property as described in subsections (A) through (C) of this section, and between the hours of ten p.m. on any day and four a.m. of the following day, the property as described in subsection (D) of this section, which is owned, operated, administered or maintained by the city unless that person is on the property pursuant to officially sanctioned city business, or such person is engaged in a scheduled activity of the city, or the person has written authorization of the director or city employee who has responsibility for the property: A. Any public park, playground, recreation facility, or recreation facility grounds; B. The civic center square; C. The libraries and library grounds; D. Any residential open space area (ROS), as defined in section 30.11.010 of this code, located in a high fire hazard area or fire hazard severity zone, access to which is controlled by means of a gated fire road.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4983441; v20 updated 2026-05-19).
Full Breakdown
165, adopted by Ordinance 5266 in 2000 and amended by Ordinance 5725 in 2011, bars anyone other than peace officers and city employees from being on or remaining on specified city property overnight. closure covers three categories: any public park, playground, recreation facility or recreation facility grounds; the civic center square; and the libraries and library grounds. , reflecting the added wildfire-access risk those gated fire roads create after dark. The ordinance carves out three ways to lawfully be on the property during closed hours: officially sanctioned city business, a scheduled city activity, or written authorization from the director or city employee responsible for that property.
without one of those three authorizations is in violation, regardless of intent. 170: keeping public facilities available for the use they were designed for, and preventing the accelerated deterioration and added maintenance cost that comes from off-hours or off-purpose use. 010(A).
Violations & Fines
Violating the park curfew is a misdemeanor under Municipal Code Section 1.20.010(A), punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, up to six months in jail, or both. Section 1.20.010(E) makes each day a violation continues a separate offense, so a person remaining in a closed park across multiple nights faces a separate charge for each night. Glendale police officers patrol city parks after hours and issue the citations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do Glendale's public parks close?
Can I stay in a Glendale park after curfew with permission?
What happens if police catch someone in a Glendale park after hours?
Does the 10 p.m. curfew apply to the civic center and libraries too?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Glendale
California rules heatmap·Compare Glendale to another location·View the California curfew laws overview
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Park Curfew in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle park curfew.