Prince William County, VA Curfew Laws: Park Curfew (2026)

County Code Sec. 17-16 sets the baseline rule: parks "shall customarily be open to the public from sunrise to sunset, unless the County shall otherwise provide," and patrons must observe any specially posted hours at individual parks that differ from that default. The ordinance lets the County Executive's designee set narrower hours at specific facilities, so a dog park, ballfield or trailhead can post an earlier closing time than the general sunset rule, and the posted sign controls at that location. Sec. 17-17 adds a second, broader authority: no unauthorized group or individual may enter any part of a park the County has closed "in the interest of public safety, health or welfare," a power used for storm damage, flooding, ice, or active maintenance work rather than the routine nightly closing.

Enforcement runs through Sec. 17-3, which directs "all duly authorized County employees," not just sworn police officers, to enforce Chapter 17 and applicable state law within park boundaries, so a park ranger or Parks and Recreation staff member can act on a curfew violation without a police officer present. Sec. 17-4 fixes the default penalty for any Chapter 17 violation not otherwise specified at a Class 4 misdemeanor, and separately authorizes ejection from the park for the violation whether or not the person is criminally charged.

Because Sec. 17-16 relies on posted signage rather than one countywide closing time, a resident who wants certainty about a specific park's hours should check the entrance sign or facility listing rather than assume the sunrise-to-sunset default applies everywhere; a facility reservation permit issued under Sec. 17-20 can also extend a booked area's operating hours for a scheduled event.