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Calaveras County, CA Curfew Laws: Park Curfew (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing chapter
County Code Chapter 12.20
Closure authority
County park manager
Minors rule
No unsupervised overnight camping under 18
Penalty
Up to $500 fine, 6 months jail
Posting requirement
Closed boundaries posted with signs
Scope
Unincorporated county only

Summary

Calaveras County's recreation ordinance makes it unlawful to enter a county recreation area, or a portion the park manager has posted as closed, without permission. Unsupervised minors under eighteen may not camp overnight in any recreation area unless the park manager's rules specifically allow it. Violating Chapter 12.20 is a misdemeanor punishable by jail time and a fine.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Calaveras County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

It is unlawful for any person to enter a recreation area or open one thereof except as permitted by the park manager. ... Unsupervised minors under the age of eighteen years will not be allowed to camp overnight in any recreation area unless specifically allowed pursuant to rules adopted by the park manager. ... Any person who violates a provision of this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor, which shall be punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for a period of not to exceed six months, or by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 23 Update 2).

Full Breakdown

020(E)), so it does not reach Angels Camp's own parks. 040 makes it unlawful to enter a recreation area, or to open one, except as permitted by the park manager. 060). 070). 030). 400: unsupervised minors under eighteen cannot camp overnight in any recreation area unless the park manager's rules specifically allow it. 110). 480.

Violations & Fines

Entering a recreation area, or a posted closed portion of one, without the park manager's permission is a misdemeanor under § 12.20.500, punishable by up to six months in county jail, a fine of up to $500, or both. Citations are issued under Penal Code §§ 853.6 through 853.8 per § 12.20.410, and an unsupervised minor found camping overnight without authorization is a separate violation of § 12.20.400.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Calaveras County set a fixed nighttime closing time for its parks?
No fixed clock hour appears in the code. Instead, § 12.20.050 lets the park manager designate open and closed areas by adopted rule, and § 12.20.070 requires the closed boundary to be posted with signs before entry into it becomes unlawful under § 12.20.040.
Can my teenager camp overnight alone at a county recreation area?
Not without specific authorization. Section 12.20.400 bars unsupervised minors under eighteen from overnight camping in any recreation area unless the park manager has adopted a rule specifically allowing it, so an accompanying adult or a posted exception is required.
What happens if I'm caught in a closed area of a county park?
You can be cited and, on conviction, fined up to $500, jailed up to six months, or both under § 12.20.500. Officers issue citations under the Penal Code procedure referenced in § 12.20.410 rather than making a custodial arrest for most violations of this chapter.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Calaveras County

All Calaveras County rules

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