Hemet, CA Curfew Laws: Park Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Hemet City Code § 50-11
- Unlit park hours
- Closed 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
- Lit park hours
- Closed 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
- Playground rule
- Adults barred unless supervising a minor
- Emergency closure
- Police chief may close park early for safety
- Enforcement
- Strict liability under § 50-98
Summary
Hemet City Code § 50-11 closes unlit city parks between 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., and lit parks between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., except for anyone covered by a specific written event permit. The police chief may also order any park closed earlier, before sunset, if activities there threaten public health or safety, and posted signage must state the closure hours. Loitering, remaining, or parking in a park during closed hours is unlawful.
(a)Except in accord with a specific written permit provision, no person shall remain, park a vehicle, stay, or loiter in any unlit park between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. or any lit park between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m....(c)Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, the police chief may order any park closed before sunset and after sunrise when he or she determines that activities constituting a threat to public health, safety or welfare have occurred or are occurring in the park and that such closing is necessary to protect the public health, safety or welfare. At least one sign designating the hours when the park is closed shall be installed prominently in the park. During any time when a park is ordered closed, it is unlawful for any person to remain, stay, or loiter in said park during said period.(d)It shall be unlawful to enter or remain in a children's playground area if such person is 18 years of age or older unless actually engaged in the care, custody or supervision of a person younger than 18 years of age who is using the child playground facilities.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 69 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
Subsection (a) sets the baseline: no person may remain, park a vehicle, stay, or loiter in an unlit park between 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., or a lit park between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., unless a specific written permit provision says otherwise. Subsection (b) lets the city manager designate extended hours for any individual park when doing so is consistent with sound use of park resources and will not harm public health, safety or welfare; the standard 8 p.m./10 p.m. closure does not apply during those extended hours.
Subsection (c) gives the police chief separate emergency authority to close a park before sunset or keep it closed after sunrise, without waiting for the normal nightly closure, whenever the chief determines that activities threatening public health, safety or welfare have occurred or are occurring there. At least one sign stating the park's closure hours must be prominently installed, and it is then unlawful for anyone to remain, stay or loiter in the park during that closure period.
Subsection (d) adds a standalone rule for playgrounds: anyone 18 or older may not enter or remain in a children's playground area unless they are actually caring for, or have custody or supervision of, someone younger than 18 who is using the playground equipment. The whole chapter, adopted by Ordinance No. 2048 on January 14, 2025, is enforced as a strict-liability offense under § 50-98, meaning intent or knowledge of the closure is not required to cite a violation.
Violations & Fines
Chapter 50 violations, including a park-hours violation under § 50-11, are strict-liability offenses enforced under § 50-98 consistent with the citywide enforcement scheme in Chapter 1, Article II, which allows administrative citations as well as criminal misdemeanor or infraction charges. Because no intent element applies, simply remaining, parking, or loitering in a closed park after the posted hours is enough to support a citation, regardless of whether the person knew the park was closed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sit in a Hemet park after 8 p.m.?
Does the city have to prove I knew the park was closed?
Can police close a park before its normal curfew hour?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hemet
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How other cities in Riverside County handle park curfew.