Long Beach, CA Curfew Laws: Park Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Curfew hours
- 10:00 p.m. to 1 hour before sunrise
- Applies to
- parks, beaches, buildings, plazas, amphitheaters
- Enforcing agency
- Parks, Recreation & Marine with Police
- July 4th closure
- midnight to 1 hour before sunrise
- Wet-sand exception
- walking/jogging/fishing allowed until midnight
- Permit exception
- permitted events, overnight-permitted vehicles
- Max penalty
- $1,000 fine and/or 6 months jail
Summary
Long Beach closes every public park, beach, public building, amphitheater and plaza between 10:00 p.m. and one hour before sunrise under LBMC § 16.16.010(K). The Director of Parks, Recreation and Marine, working with the Chief of Police, may temporarily shift closing hours for public safety, and permitted events or overnight-permitted vehicles are excused.
Remain or stay, or store personal belongings, between the hours of ten o'clock (10:00) p.m. and one (1) hour before sunrise at any public park, public beach, public building or enclosure or public amphitheater or plaza. However, the Director of Parks, Recreation and Marine, in consultation with the Chief of Police, is authorized to alter hours of closing temporarily at any public park, public beach, beach and marina parking lot, public building or enclosure, or public amphitheater or plaza in the interest of public safety, health, or welfare, and no person shall remain or stay while any of the foregoing facilities are closed by the Director. This Subsection shall not apply to any person attending an activity, program, concession or special event, or the parking of a vehicle overnight, for which a City permit has been issued.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 52 Update 1 | City Charter: Supplement 5).
Full Breakdown
and one hour before sunrise. The Director of Parks, Recreation and Marine, in consultation with the Chief of Police, can temporarily alter closing hours for public safety, health, or welfare, and the closure then applies to whatever hours the Director sets. The curfew does not apply to anyone attending an activity, program, concession, or special event under a City permit, or to a vehicle parked overnight under a permit. Two carve-outs soften the beach curfew specifically: Subsection O keeps the beach between Belmont Pier and the Belmont pool building open until midnight, and allows walking, jogging, or licensed fishing on the wet sand of any beach until midnight.
On the Fourth of July, Subsection P closes all beaches and beach parking lots entirely from midnight until one hour before sunrise. 60, Subsection Q lets the Director extend beach and beach-lot hours to midnight. Separately, Subsection S authorizes the Director of Parks to post specific hours for any fenced, gated, or enclosed park facility, structure, or grounds, and bars entry outside those posted hours except for peace officers, security officers, emergency personnel, or Parks, Recreation and Marine staff on duty.
Violations & Fines
Chapter 16.16 carries no stand-alone penalty, so violations fall under the Municipal Code's general penalty, LBMC § 1.32.010: a misdemeanor punishable by up to $1,000 and/or up to six months in County or City jail, unless the City Prosecutor elects to charge it as an infraction, still punishable by up to $1,000. Each day a violation continues is a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I walk on a Long Beach beach after 10 p.m.?
What happens on the Fourth of July?
Is there an exception for permitted events?
What's the penalty for staying in a park after curfew?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Long Beach
California rules heatmap·Compare Long Beach to another location·View the California curfew laws overview
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Park Curfew in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle park curfew.