La Mesa, CA Curfew Laws: Park Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Standard park hours closed
- 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
- Harry Griffen Park hours
- 1 hour after sunset to 6 a.m.
- Extended-hours permit issuer
- Director of Parks and Recreation
- Violation classification
- Infraction (LMMC § 9.08.160)
Summary
In the City of La Mesa, municipal parks close overnight under Section 9.08.140 of the Municipal Code. Every park bars use between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. except Harry Griffen Park, which closes one hour after sunset instead. A written permit from the Director of Parks and Recreation allows extended hours.
9.08.140 - Hours of park use. Individuals or groups of individuals are prohibited from being in or upon all municipal parks between the hours of ten p.m. and six a.m., except for Harry Griffen Park, and said hours shall be between one hour after sunset and six a.m. for said park, except an individual or group of individuals may apply for a written permit for extended hours for any park from the director of parks and recreation. The individual or group is authorized to be in the park for the hours set forth in said permit.
Full Breakdown
Section 9.08.140, part of Chapter 9.08's rules governing park use, prohibits 'individuals or groups of individuals' from being in or upon any city park between ten p.m. and six a.m. Harry Griffen Park gets an earlier, sunset-linked curfew: it closes one hour after sunset rather than at a fixed clock time, reopening at six a.m. like every other park. The only way around either curfew is a written permit for extended hours issued by the director of parks and recreation, which authorizes the permit holder to be in the park for whatever hours the permit specifies.
The curfew sits alongside other Chapter 9.08 park rules, including a ban on loose or leashed animals outside designated dog areas (Section 9.08.110), a ban on animals other than certified assistance dogs on athletic fields (Section 9.08.115), and the use-permit requirement for groups of twenty-five or more or anyone bringing alcohol into a park (Section 9.08.152). Enforcement of the curfew, like every Chapter 9.08 rule, runs through Section 9.08.160's general penalty clause: any violation of the chapter is an infraction, subject to the general penalty clause set out in Section 1.01.080 of the code, except as modified by Section 1.01.130.
Violations & Fines
Being in a La Mesa park outside the permitted hours, without an extended-hours permit from the parks and recreation director, is an infraction under Section 9.08.160, punishable per the general penalty clause of Section 1.01.080 of the Municipal Code, subject to whatever exception Section 1.01.130 sets for infractions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do La Mesa parks close?
Can I get permission to be in a park after hours?
What happens if I'm caught in a La Mesa park after curfew?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in La Mesa
California rules heatmap·Compare La Mesa to another location·View the California curfew laws overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Park Curfew in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Diego County handle park curfew.