City of Santa Barbara parks generally open at sunrise and close one half hour after sunset, with a few gated parks opening at 8:00 a.m. Playgrounds are limited to adults accompanying a child age 12 or younger. A separate minors' curfew under Chapter 9.04 bars those under 18 from public places, including parks, from 10:00 p.m. to sunrise.
Park hours and conduct are set by Municipal Code Title 15 (Recreation, Beaches and Parks), Chapter 15.16 (Public Beaches and Parks), enforced under authority in Section 15.16.220. Per the City Parks and Recreation Department, parks generally open at sunrise and close one half hour after sunset; gated parks such as Skofield Park, Hilda McIntyre Ray Park, and Franceschi Park open at 8:00 a.m. and close one half hour after sunset, remaining closed until the following morning. Areas with lighted sports fields may stay open after dark for approved activities. Playground access is age-restricted: adults 18 and older may enter City playgrounds only when accompanying a child age 12 or younger (with an exception for accompanying a person 13 or older with special needs). Alcoholic beverages and overnight camping or sleeping are prohibited in parks, and using a recreational vehicle for sleeping or habitation on a public beach is unlawful. Separately, the City's general curfew, Municipal Code Chapter 9.04, makes it unlawful for any minor under 18 to be in public streets, parks, playgrounds, or other public places between 10:00 p.m. and sunrise, with exceptions when accompanied by a parent or guardian or on a direct errand for them. A willful violation of the curfew is an infraction punishable by a fine not to exceed $80.00 and/or eight hours of community service. These are City ordinances, separate from Santa Barbara County's park and juvenile rules for unincorporated areas.
Being in a closed park after hours, an adult entering a playground without an accompanying young child, or a minor violating the 10:00 p.m. curfew can result in citation; a curfew violation is an infraction with a fine up to $80.00 and/or eight hours of community service.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
santa-barbara-ca
The Fence Guidelines set height and location but defer the exact material, color, width and style to design-review boards. Front-yard fences, walls and gates...
santa-barbara-ca
No fence, screen, wall or hedge over 3.5 feet may stand in a driveway visibility triangle: 10 ft along the driveway and 10 ft back from the front lot line wh...
santa-barbara-ca
Residential retaining walls not over 4 feet (footing to top) are permit-exempt unless they support a surcharge or impound flammable liquids. Where a fence si...
santa-barbara-ca
The City of Santa Barbara addresses animal hoarding through its care-and-keeping and nuisance provisions plus California's anti-cruelty law. Keeping animals ...
santa-barbara-ca
The City of Santa Barbara does not publish a dedicated wildlife-feeding ban in its general animal regulations, but feeding wild animals can create a public n...
santa-barbara-ca
The City of Santa Barbara requires a license for each unaltered cat over four months old, obtained from the City. There is no leash requirement for cats. Red...
See how Santa Barbara's park curfew rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.