Madison, WI Curfew Laws: Park Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- MGO § 8.21
- General park hours
- Closed 10:00 p.m.–4:00 a.m.
- Link/James Madison Park
- Closed 10:00 p.m.–6:00 a.m.
- Berkley Park
- Closed sunset to sunrise
- Max forfeiture
- $200
- Conservation parks
- Governed separately by MGO § 8.40
Summary
Madison closes its public parks overnight. MGO § 8.21 makes it unlawful to be in most City parks between 10:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m., with tighter or looser hours at a handful of named parks, and a forfeiture of up to $200 for anyone who lingers past closing.
It shall be unlawful for any person to be or remain in Link Park or James Madison Park between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., to be or remain in Berkley Park from sunset to sunrise, or to be or remain in any other public park in the City of Madison between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m. This prohibition shall include bathing beaches contiguous or adjacent to public parks, but shall not prohibit passing through a park area either in a vehicle or on foot without stopping during such hours; [...] The entrances of all parks shall be conspicuously posted indicating the closing hours of the park. [...] Any person violating any provision of this ordinance shall be subject to a forfeiture of not more than $200.
Full Breakdown
Section 8.21 sets three different overnight windows: Link Park and James Madison Park close from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.; Berkley Park closes from sunset to sunrise; and every other Madison public park, plus any bathing beach adjacent to a park, closes from 10:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. The ordinance carves out passing through a park by vehicle or on foot without stopping, and it does not apply to parks the Superintendent of the Parks Division has designated as having regularly scheduled recreation that runs past 10:00 p.m., those parks instead close at 11:00 p.m., except for participants in overnight activities the Superintendent has approved.
Warner Park's baseball field and parking lot get their own carve-out tied to minor league games: they may stay open until a scheduled game ends, but no inning may start after 11:50 p.m. The Common Council can also pass a resolution letting a specific park stay open past 11:00 p.m. for a designated, Council-approved event. Every park entrance must be conspicuously posted with its closing hours so the public has notice. Conservation parks run on a separate hours schedule set out in MGO § 8.40 rather than this section.
The prohibition is enforced by the Madison Police Department, and because it is framed as a presence offense, being or remaining in the park during closed hours, an officer does not need to show any other misconduct to issue a citation.
Violations & Fines
Anyone found in or remaining in a covered park during its closed hours is subject to a forfeiture of not more than $200 under MGO § 8.21. Passing straight through without stopping, whether on foot or in a vehicle, is not a violation, and participants in Parks Division-approved overnight programming or Council-designated late events are exempt for the duration of that activity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do Madison parks close?
Can I walk through a Madison park after hours to get somewhere?
What's the fine for being in a Madison park after curfew?
Are there exceptions for scheduled park events at night?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Madison
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Park Curfew in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Dane County handle park curfew.