Mebane, NC Curfew Laws: Park Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- April-Oct hours
- Daily 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- March hours
- Wed-Sat 7 a.m.-noon & 1-5 p.m.; Sun 6 a.m.-8 p.m.
- Nov-Feb
- Closed for the winter
- Violation
- Misdemeanor under § 24-111
- General penalty
- $500.00 civil citation under § 1-6
Summary
In the City of Mebane, North Carolina, City Code § 24-123 gives Lake Michael Park a seasonal operating schedule rather than a nightly curfew: the park runs full days from April through October, keeps a shortened schedule in March, and shuts down entirely from November through February, so anyone showing up to fish, walk, or picnic in the off-season will find the gates closed.
(a)Unless otherwise specifically provided, violation of any provision of this Code or any other city ordinance shall subject the offender to a civil penalty of $500.00 ... (b)Any willful failure to pay any civil penalty imposed within this Code is a misdemeanor under G.S. 14-4 and punishable by a fine of $500.00 or 30 days in jail, or both. ... It shall be unlawful and shall constitute a misdemeanor for any person to violate any of the provisions of this article and any person violating such provisions shall be punished in accordance with section 1-6. ... The operating hours of Lake Michael Park shall be as follows: (1)For the month of March only:a.Wednesday through Saturday, 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.b.Sunday, 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.(2)For the months of April through October: Monday through Sunday 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.(3)For the months of November through February: Closed for the winter.
Full Breakdown
Section 24-123 sets three separate schedules for Lake Michael Park, the city-owned lake and park that anchors Mebane's recreation system. From April through October the park is open daily, Monday through Sunday, from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. In March only, hours narrow to Wednesday through Saturday, 7:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., plus Sunday from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. For the four winter months, November through February, the Code simply states the park is closed for the winter, with no exception listed for fishing, walking, or boating.
The schedule sits in Article IV, Division 1 of Chapter 24, alongside the park's other general rules on animals, firearms, alcohol, gambling, and litter, all of which remain in force during whatever hours the park is open. Section 24-111, the article's own violation clause, makes it unlawful and a misdemeanor for any person to violate any of the provisions of this article, expressly including the operating-hours schedule, and directs that offenders be punished in accordance with section 1-6, the Code's general penalty provision. Fees for using the park, separate from the hours question, are set by the city council under § 24-124 and kept on file at city offices rather than printed in the Code.
Violations & Fines
Entering or using Lake Michael Park outside its posted hours, including during the November-through-February winter closure, is a misdemeanor under § 24-111, punished through the Code's general penalty in § 1-6: a $500.00 civil citation, an additional $100.00 if unpaid within 15 days, and, for willful nonpayment, a separate misdemeanor under G.S. 14-4 carrying up to $500.00 or 30 days in jail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lake Michael Park open year-round?
What are the exact hours during the busy season?
What's the penalty for being caught in the park during the winter closure?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Mebane
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