Atlantic County, NJ Curfew Laws: Park Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Opening time
- 7:30 a.m. daily
- Closing time
- 1/2 hour after sunset
- Vehicle rule
- No cars left in park after closing
- Storm authority
- Chief Ranger may further restrict hours
- Penalty
- $100 to $500 per offense
- Enforcer
- County Park Rangers
Summary
Atlantic County parks open at 7:30 a.m. and close a half hour after sunset under § 97-8, when every visitor must exit and vehicles must leave unless holding a camping or vehicle permit. The Public Safety Supervising Chief Ranger can further restrict hours for storms, flooding or fire, and violators face fines and possible removal from the park system.
Except as provided below in Subsections C though F, County parks shall open at 7:30 a.m. All activities in County parks shall cease, and County parks shall close 1/2 hour after sunset (the time when the sun is no longer visible on the western horizon), at which time all persons shall exit County park property. The surface waters of Lake Lenape shall be deemed County park property, subject to the above-stated hours of operation.
B. No automobile shall be parked, stored, abandoned or otherwise remain within any County park after the closing time specified above, except as may be permitted below in Subsections C through F, or as may be authorized by a valid County vehicle permit.
C. Any person with a valid camping permit shall be permitted to remain in the designated County park camping site, provided that such person shall comply with all County park rules that govern overnight camping. Automobiles of persons with a valid camping permit shall be parked overnight as directed by the County Parks Director or his designee.
D. Special application may be made to the County Parks Director or his designee to extend the hours of operation. Any extension of hours of operation shall be subject to issuance of a permit authorizing extended hours for authorized operations.
E.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4863463; v25 updated 2026-04-21; through 04-21-2026).
Full Breakdown
and all activities must cease at closing, defined as half an hour after sunset, the moment the sun is no longer visible on the western horizon, at which point every person must leave County park property. The surface waters of Lake Lenape count as County park property and follow the same hours. Subsection B bars any automobile from being parked, stored or abandoned in a County park after closing unless the vehicle holds a valid County permit. Subsection C exempts campers with a valid camping permit, who may stay overnight if they follow the County's camping rules and park where the Parks Director directs.
Subsection D lets a visitor apply to the County Parks Director for an extended-hours permit. Subsection E authorizes the Public Safety Supervising Chief Ranger to further restrict hours or access during flooding, fire, storms or other conditions that threaten safe park use, and Subsection F exempts patrons authorized to use the Catering Hall at Lake Lenape East. Park Rangers, operating under the Atlantic County Department of Public Safety's Office of Emergency Preparedness, are designated the enforcing agency for the park system under § 97-1.
Violations & Fines
Remaining in a County park, or leaving a vehicle there, after the half-hour-past-sunset closing violates § 97-8 and § 97-7's general penalty clause, which sets a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500 per offense, with each day of violation a separate offense. A court-adjudicated violation can also lead to removal and a twelve-month ban from the entire County park system under § 97-6.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do Atlantic County parks close?
Can I leave my car in an Atlantic County park overnight?
Can park hours change for bad weather?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Atlantic County
Compare Atlantic County to another location·View the New Jersey curfew laws overview
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