Sumter County, FL Curfew Laws: Park Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Code § 18-32
- Hours set by
- Board of County Commissioners resolution
- Notice required
- Signage posted at each facility
- Overnight camping
- Only 3 named parks, permit required
- Default penalty
- $500 fine or 60 days jail (§ 1-6)
Summary
Sumter County doesn't fix a single closing time in its code for county parks; instead Code § 18-32 lets the Board of County Commissioners set each park's hours of operation by resolution, with signs posted at every facility telling visitors when it's open. Staying in a county park outside those posted hours is unlawful under § 18-31.
The hours of operation for all parks and recreation areas owned and/or operated by the county shall be set from time to time by resolution adopted by the board of county commissioners. Appropriate signage shall be installed at each facility notifying the public of the hours the park or recreation area is open to the public.
Full Breakdown
The provision covers 'all parks and recreation areas owned and/or operated by the county,' the full list of properties governed by Division 2's park rules in §§ 18-31 through 18-41, everything from vehicle speed (15 mph under § 18-33) to leashed pets (§ 18-34), restricted campfires (§ 18-36) and a litter ban (§ 18-38). Section 18-31 makes it unlawful to do any act the division prohibits 'within the limits of any park or recreational area,' which includes remaining in a park after its posted closing time once the Board of County Commissioners has adopted a resolution fixing that park's hours.
The code doesn't print a single countywide closing time itself; each facility's hours come from a board resolution and must be posted on signage at the site, so the actual overnight curfew for a specific park, like Lake Okahumpka Park or Wahoo Community Park, is set locally and can differ facility to facility. 00, up to 60 days in the county jail, or both, with a continuing violation counted as a separate offense each day it persists.
Violations & Fines
Being in a county park outside its posted hours violates § 18-31's ban on any act prohibited by the park-rules division. Because Chapter 18 has no separate fine schedule, the violation is punished under the Code's general penalty in § 1-6: up to $500.00, up to 60 days in the county jail, or both.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do Sumter County parks close?
Can I be cited for staying in a county park after closing?
Can I camp overnight in a Sumter County park?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sumter County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Sumter County to another location·View the Florida curfew laws overview
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