Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup
Key FactsOrdinance TextFull BreakdownViolationsFAQSourcesMore in Thurston County

Thurston County, WA Curfew Laws: Park Curfew (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Default hours
6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily
Camping exception
paid campers in designated campsites only
Penalty
misdemeanor, fine up to $250
Governing section
Thurston County Code § 10.76.200
Sets custom hours
public works director, posted at entrance
Camping stay limit
7 continuous days (§ 10.76.180)

Summary

Thurston County parks close nightly under Thurston County Code § 10.76.200: by default they're open only from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., though the county's public works director can post different opening and closing times for any individual park. Anyone who enters or stays inside a closed county park, except a paid camper in a designated campsite, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable under § 10.76.410.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Thurston County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

The director may establish, for each county park, times and periods when it will be open or closed to the public, which times or periods as so established shall be posted at the entrance to such park. Where not so established, county parks shall be open daily from six a.m. until ten p.m. No person shall enter into or be present within any county park during the time it is closed except when camping in a designated campsite after having paid the applicable use fee, if so required.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 77).

Full Breakdown

030). 200, the director of the county's public works department sets opening and closing times for each park and must post them at the park entrance. m. Outside those hours, no person may enter or remain in a county park. 180, which separately cap continuous camping at seven days unless the director sets a different limit for a specific park or area. 230). 410: a misdemeanor carrying a fine of up to two hundred fifty dollars. 020. The current hours language traces to Ordinance 4714 § 10 (1974), last touched by Resolution 15115 in 2015.

Violations & Fines

Being present in a Thurston County park after its posted closing time, or after 10 p.m. where no separate schedule has been posted, is a misdemeanor under § 10.76.410, punishable by a fine up to $250. The camping exception only protects someone in a designated campsite who has paid the applicable fee; loitering, parking or driving in a closed park otherwise still violates the closure and can draw a citation from county park staff or the sheriff's office.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Thurston County change a park's hours from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.?
Yes. Under § 10.76.200 the director of the county's public works department can set custom opening and closing times for any specific county park, but the schedule must be posted at that park's entrance. Only where no custom schedule has been posted does the default 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. rule apply, so always check posted signage before assuming the default hours control.
What happens if I'm caught in a Thurston County park after closing?
You can be cited for a misdemeanor under § 10.76.410, which carries a fine of up to $250 upon conviction. The only people allowed inside after hours are overnight campers who are staying in a designated campsite and have already paid the required use fee under the chapter's camping sections.
Can I camp overnight in a Thurston County park past closing time?
Only in a designated campsite, and only after paying the applicable use fee under § 10.76.160. Continuous occupancy of that same campsite is capped at seven days under § 10.76.180, though the director can shorten or lengthen that limit for a particular park when conditions warrant it.
What counts as a 'county park' under this curfew?
'County park' is defined broadly in § 10.76.030 to include any area under Board of County Commissioners management, parks, squares, drives, parkways, trails, beaches, playgrounds and other recreational areas or facilities in the county's park and recreation system, so the closing-hours rule reaches trails and beaches as well as developed parks.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Thurston County

Juvenile CurfewSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Barking DogsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Retaining WallsSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Cat RulesSome Restrictions

All Thurston County rules

Compare Thurston County to another location·View the Washington curfew laws overview

Get notified when Park Curfew in Thurston County, WA changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.