Guilford County, NC Curfew Laws: Park Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Curfew rule
- No park use outside posted hours (Sec. 13-19)
- Exception
- Express permission from the county
- Enforcement
- Removal, trespass charge, or G.S. 153A-123 remedy
- Default penalty
- Up to $500 fine or 30 days jail
- Adopted
- Ord. of 5-31-90
Summary
Guilford County parks close at their posted hours, and Sec. 13-19 makes it unlawful to be in a county park outside those hours without express county permission. Sec. 13-20 backs the curfew with trespass prosecution and any enforcement remedy available under G.S. 153A-123, on top of the general park rules in Chapter 13 covering vehicles, alcohol, fires and firearms.
Sec. 13-19. - Use of parks outside posted hours. It shall be unlawful to use any park at times other than the posted hours of operation, unless express permission has been obtained from the county. ... Sec. 13-20. - Enforcement. This chapter may be enforced by any and all remedies authorized by G.S. 153A-123 or other applicable law. In addition, anyone violating any of these provisions may be asked to leave immediately and may be subject to prosecution for trespass for failing to do so.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 13 of the county code, enacted by ordinance on May 31, 1990, governs every park and recreation area Guilford County owns. Sec. ' Sec. ' The rule works alongside the chapter's other closing-time-adjacent restrictions: Sec. 13-16 bars unattended fires and requires embers fully extinguished before leaving, Sec. 13-13 limits alcohol to areas the parks and recreation commission designates and bars anyone visibly intoxicated from entering or remaining, and Sec. 13-5 restricts firearms and fireworks in parks. Because posted hours vary by facility, the actual curfew for any specific county park is set by the sign posted at that park rather than a single county-wide clock, and county staff or the parks and recreation commission can grant express permission for after-hours access, such as a permitted evening event under Sec. 13-10.
Violations & Fines
Sec. 13-20 authorizes enforcement of the whole chapter, including the after-hours curfew, 'by any and all remedies authorized by G.S. 153A-123 or other applicable law.' A person found in a county park after posted hours can be told to leave immediately, and failing to do so exposes them to prosecution for trespass rather than only a park-rules citation. Because Sec. 13-19 sets no separate fine, a citation for the underlying violation falls back on the Sec. 1-14 general penalty of up to a $500 fine or 30 days in jail.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do Guilford County parks close?
What happens if I'm caught in a Guilford County park after hours?
Can I ever get permission to use a Guilford County park after posted hours?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Guilford County
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