Mendocino County, CA Curfew Laws: Park Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Mill Creek Park closes
- 1 hour after sunset
- Mill Creek Park reopens
- At sunrise
- Parkwide vehicle curfew
- Midnight to sunrise, permit needed
- In-park speed limit
- 25 mph unless posted
- First offense
- Infraction, Gov. Code § 25132
- Repeat offense
- Misdemeanor, up to $500 fine, 6 months jail
Summary
Mill Creek County Park, including its picnic area, dams and ponds, closes one hour after sunset and reopens at sunrise. General County park rules also bar vehicle operation or parking between midnight and sunrise without the Park Authority's permission.
In addition to the regulations set forth in this Chapter, Mill Creek County Park, including the picnic area, dams and ponds shall be closed one (1) hour after sunset and shall reopen at sunrise.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 75).
Full Breakdown
Mendocino County Code Sec. 28. Because the closure is tied to sunset rather than a fixed clock time, the exact curfew hour shifts through the year, tightest in winter and latest in midsummer. County parks generally are also off-limits to vehicle traffic overnight: Sec. 040(D) makes it a misdemeanor to operate or park a vehicle in any County park between 12:00 midnight and sunrise without the Park Authority's permission, and Sec. 040(B) caps in-park vehicle speed at 25 miles per hour unless otherwise posted. Camping inside County parks is governed separately, by cross-reference in Sec.
32 camping restrictions rather than by this closure rule. Enforcement runs through the Mendocino County Sheriff and the Park Authority: Sec. 6 et seq. Sec. 28 overall: a first offense not otherwise declared a misdemeanor is an infraction punished under Government Code Section 25132, while a second or later violation is a misdemeanor carrying a fine of up to $500, up to six months in County jail, or both, with each day of a continuing violation charged as a separate offense.
Violations & Fines
Violating the Mill Creek Park after-dark closure or the parkwide overnight vehicle rule is enforced as a Chapter 14.28 offense: a first violation is an infraction under Government Code Section 25132, and any repeat violation becomes a misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $500, up to six months in County jail, or both. Each day of a continuing violation counts as a separate offense, and peace officers may cite in lieu of arrest under Penal Code Section 853.6.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does Mill Creek County Park close?
Can I drive through a County park at night?
What happens if I'm caught in a County park after the curfew?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Mendocino County
California rules heatmap·Compare Mendocino County to another location·View the California curfew laws overview
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