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Beaufort County, SC Curfew Laws: Park Curfew (2026)

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

Key Facts

Default hours
Daylight only, dusk-to-dawn closure, Sec. 91-104(1)
Waiver
Only via signed county-approved agreement, Sec. 91-104(2)
Unauthorized presence
Unlawful, arrest possible, Sec. 91-104(3)
Enforcing agency
Beaufort County Sheriff's Office, Sec. 91-4(7)
Max penalty
$500 fine or 30 days, Sec. 91-200
Applies to
County-designated passive parks only

Summary

Beaufort County closes its designated passive parks to the public from dusk until dawn, opening them for daylight use only unless posted signage or an approved contract says otherwise. Staying in a passive park after closing without prior written county approval is unlawful and can lead to immediate arrest.

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

(1)Unless otherwise specifically provided or posted at a passive park property or facility, any designated passive park that is open to the public shall be open for public use during daylight hours only and shall be closed to public use from dusk until dawn.

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 55 Update 1 | Community Development Code: Supplement 16).

Full Breakdown

Sec. 91-104(1) sets the default: unless specifically provided or posted otherwise, a passive park open to the public is open for daylight hours only and closed from dusk until dawn. Sec. 91-104(2) allows that closing rule to be waived, but only for activities under an approved agreement or contract for use signed by the county administrator or a designee, and the agreement itself must state the waiver of operating hours. Sec. 91-104(3) makes it unlawful to remain in a passive park or its facilities during closed hours without prior written approval, and warns that unauthorized presence may be grounds for immediate arrest.

"Passive park" is a defined term under Sec. 91-3: a fee-simple county-owned property purchased with rural and critical lands preservation program funding, distinct from the county's general recreation facilities. The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office holds enforcement authority over these passive-park regulations under Sec. 91-4(7). By contrast, Sec. 90-96(a) governs the county's general (non-passive) recreation facilities, which post their own hours or default to sun-up-to-sunset, with unlit outdoor facilities off-limits after dark and use during darkness treated as trespassing under Sec. 90-96(b).

Violations & Fines

Sec. 91-200 makes any violation of the passive-parks chapter, including remaining past the dusk-to-dawn closure without written approval, a misdemeanor punishable by a court-set fine of up to $500.00, up to 30 days imprisonment, or both, with each day of continuing violation treated as a separate offense. The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office enforces this closure under its authority over Article II of the chapter.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time do Beaufort County's passive parks close?
Sec. 91-104(1) closes them from dusk until dawn by default, opening them for daylight public use only, unless a sign at the property or a specific provision says otherwise. The parks and recreation department, or the passive parks manager, can post different hours at individual sites.
Can I get special permission to stay past closing?
Yes, but only through a formal route. Sec. 91-104(2) allows the closing hours to be waived for activities covered by an approved agreement or contract signed by the county administrator or a designee, and that agreement must expressly state the waiver of operating hours.
What happens if I'm caught in a passive park after dark?
Sec. 91-104(3) makes unauthorized presence during closed hours unlawful and states it may be grounds for immediate arrest. A conviction under the chapter's penalty section, Sec. 91-200, can carry a fine of up to $500.00 or up to 30 days imprisonment.
Do regular county parks close at the same time as passive parks?
Not necessarily. General recreation facilities under Sec. 90-96(a) post their own hours or default to sun-up-to-sunset, while passive parks under Sec. 91-104 close specifically from dusk to dawn as a distinct, separately enforced category of county property.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Beaufort County

Fence Regulations: Height LimitsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSignificant RestrictionsFence Regulations: Material RestrictionsSignificant RestrictionsFence Regulations: Retaining WallsSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Neighbor Fence RulesSome Restrictions

All Beaufort County rules

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