Sarasota County, FL Curfew Laws: Park Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Hours
- Set and posted by Code Administrator
- Penalty
- Up to 60 days jail, $500 fine
- Legal basis
- F.S. §§ 775.082, 775.083
- Exempt
- Designated City Parks, School Board Facilities
- Governing law
- SCC § 90-34
Summary
Sarasota County Parks close outside their posted hours under Code of Ordinances § 90-34. The Code Administrator sets those hours for every County Park, and anyone in a park after hours without a permit faces a second-degree misdemeanor charge, though Designated City Parks and School Board Facilities set their own separate hours.
Except for permitted uses, County Parks shall be open to the public only during posted hours. Hours of operation shall be determined by the Code Administrator. This provision shall not apply to Designated City Parks or School Board Facilities who shall designate their own hours.
Any person who violates this section is subject to prosecution for a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in F.S. §§ 775.082 and 775.083. by a defined term of imprisonment not exceeding 60 days and a fine not exceeding $500.00.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 98).
Full Breakdown
Section 90-34, titled 'Hours of use,' provides that except for permitted uses, County Parks shall be open to the public only during posted hours, and that the Code Administrator determines those operating hours. The section expressly carves out Designated City Parks and School Board Facilities, which are allowed to set their own hours rather than follow the County's posted schedule; a Designated City Park is a city-owned park inside Sarasota County that the County manages under a formal agreement, and a School Board Facility is School Board property the County manages as a Public Recreation Area under an agreement or permit.
daily unless a Permit or posted sign allows it, and § 90-33(a)(10), which bars overnight camping except in areas designated for it or under a Permit with any required reservation fee paid. The Code Administrator is authorized under § 90-36 to post signs at Public Recreation Areas, Beaches, Public Beach Parks, and Public Natural Areas giving notice of these hours and other regulations. Ordinance No. 2017-037, adopted June 6, 2017, is the operative amendment codifying the current version of § 90-34.
Violations & Fines
Anyone who violates § 90-34's posted-hours rule is subject to prosecution for a second-degree misdemeanor under F.S. §§ 775.082 and 775.083, punishable by up to 60 days in the County jail, a fine of up to $500.00, or both. The Sarasota County Sheriff, municipal police, and other authorized code enforcement officers may issue a citation under § 90-37, and the Board may separately sue for injunctive relief and recover attorneys' fees if it prevails.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do Sarasota County parks close?
What happens if I'm caught in a county park after hours?
Are Sarasota city parks covered by this same hours rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sarasota County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Sarasota County to another location·View the Florida curfew laws overview
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