Palm Desert, CA Curfew Laws: Park Curfew (2026)

The curfew sits in § 11.01.020 of the Palm Desert Municipal Code and is a single sentence: there is a park curfew from eleven p.m. to dawn on the use of a public park. It carries one built-in carve-out, "except as provided in other sections of this chapter." The main carve-out is in § 11.01.080(R), which allows a person to stay past eleven p.m. while attending a gathering or meeting for which a permit has been issued, or one sponsored or conducted by the city department of community services. That subsection also does not reach people lawfully lodging, camping or otherwise remaining overnight at a place especially designated and provided for that purpose, and if camping is involved the place must have been cleared by the chief of police.

"Park" is defined broadly in § 11.01.010 to cover any park, playground, athletic facilities, recreation area or center, or other area or structure maintained and operated by the city itself or together with another governmental or private entity. Under § 11.01.040, Chapter 11.01 applies to the grounds, roadways, avenues and buildings in use as recreational facilities under the control of the director of public works, and it does not apply to public officers, employees or peace officers acting within the scope of public business.

Separate from the nightly curfew, § 11.01.030 lets the city manager, chief of police, director of public works or emergency services manager close any park or part of a park in an emergency or when public safety, health, morals or interest demands it. Anyone who knows of a closure order must leave immediately and cannot enter or remain until it is lifted. Under § 11.01.050, the city manager, the director of public works, their designees and park attendants can eject and expel a violator, and a peace officer can eject instead of arresting or citing. An ejected person cannot return to the same park, recreation area or building on the same calendar day unless the person who ejected them, the city manager or the director permits it.