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San Francisco, CA Curfew Laws: Park Curfew (2026)

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

Key Facts

Default hours
5:00 a.m. to midnight
Governing code
Park Code § 3.21
Penalty authority
Park Code Article 10
Exceptions
Through-traffic on named park roadways

Summary

San Francisco parks are open 5:00 a.m. to midnight daily; staying in a park outside those posted hours without Department permission is a citable violation under Park Code Section 3.21.

Persons may enter and use any park from 5:00 a.m. to midnight daily, provided that the Department may set different hours in a permit, contract or lease. ... No person shall enter or remain in any park without the permission of the Department outside of the hours open to the public as set in subsection (a) or under subsection (b).

Source: SF Park CodeView official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-96: Codes: last updated to include changes made by legislation through Ordinance 133-26, File No. 260686, approved July 23, 2026, effective August 23, 2026).

Full Breakdown

Park Code Section 3.21 sets default park hours of 5:00 a.m. to midnight, though the Recreation and Park Commission may set different hours by resolution or permit for a specific park, building, or athletic field. Entering or remaining in a park outside its open hours without Department permission is prohibited, except for defined through-traffic on roadways in Balboa Park, Golden Gate Park, Lincoln Park, McLaren Park, the Panhandle, and a few plazas. The Department must post hours at each park and online.

Violations & Fines

A violation of the closed-hours rule is punishable under Park Code Article 10's penalty provisions; a person cited only for sleeping in a park after hours is instead charged under Section 3.13, not this section.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time do San Francisco parks close?
Parks close at midnight and reopen at 5:00 a.m. under Park Code Section 3.21, unless the Recreation and Park Commission sets different hours for a specific park.
Can I be cited for being in a park after hours?
Yes. Remaining in a park outside its posted open hours without Department permission is a Park Code Article 10 violation, except for limited through-traffic on certain park roadways.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in San Francisco

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All San Francisco rules

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