St. Martin Parish, LA Curfew Laws: Park Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Closed hours
- 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. every day
- Public use hours
- 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. every day
- Exception
- Organized function with a special permit or permission
- Penalty
- $300.00 to $500.00, up to 30 days, or both
- Suspension
- No fine imposed is subject to suspension
- Code sections
- St. Martin Parish Code §§ 28-23, 28-24
Summary
Public parks and recreational facilities owned, maintained or operated by the St. Martin Parish Government close from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. every day, with public use allowed only from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. A violation carries a fine of $300.00 to $500.00, up to 30 days in jail, or both, and the fine cannot be suspended.
No person shall enter, or be within the boundaries of, any public park or recreational facility/center owned, maintained, and/or operated by the St. Martin Parish Government from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. on any day. Therefore, the public parks and recreational facilities/centers owned, maintained, and/or operated by the St. Martin Parish Government shall be subject to public use only from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on each day of the week. Excepted from the foregoing are those occasions when the said park and/or facility/center is being used in conjunction with an organized function for which a special permit or permission has been granted by the administration of the St. Martin Parish Government. ... Whoever violates any term or provision of section 28-23 shall be fined not less than $300.00, nor more than $500.00, imprisoned for not more than 30 days, or both. No fine imposed shall be subject to suspension.
Full Breakdown
Sec. 28-23 states that no person shall enter, or be within the boundaries of, any public park or recreational facility or center owned, maintained or operated by the St. Martin Parish Government from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. on any day. Public use is allowed only from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on each day of the week. The hours do not shift with the season or with sunset. The one carve-out covers an organized function for which a special permit or permission has been granted by the administration of the St. Martin Parish Government.
Sec. 28-19 gives the parish's reasoning: unrestricted use of parks encourages abuse and creates an unreasonable disturbance for neighboring properties. Sec. 28-20 separately bars motor vehicles, motorcycles, all terrain vehicles and other recreational vehicles inside any parish park or recreational facility, with a narrow exception in Sec. 28-21 for driving between a public road and a designated parking area.
Individual parks carry after-dark rules of their own. Sec. 28-13 makes it unlawful to enter or remain on the premises of the Cade Recreation Area on La. 92 after 10:00 p.m. without written permission from the parish council. At Lake Fausse Pointe Park, Sec. 28-14(c) sets quiet hours from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m., closes the gate from 11:00 p.m. until 7:00 a.m. daily, and requires visitors to be out of the camping area before 10:00 p.m. At the Uncle Dick Davis campground, Sec. 28-16(b)(12) sets quiet time from 10:30 p.m. until 8:00 a.m. the next morning.
The curfew reaches parks owned, maintained or operated by St. Martin Parish Government. It does not reach parks run by the municipalities inside the parish.
Violations & Fines
Sec. 28-24 punishes a violation of Sec. 28-23 with a fine of not less than $300.00 and not more than $500.00, imprisonment for not more than 30 days, or both. The section adds that no fine imposed shall be subject to suspension, so a judge cannot suspend the $300.00 floor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do St. Martin Parish parks close?
Can a group use a parish park after 10:00 p.m.?
How much is the fine for being in a parish park at night?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Martin Parish
Compare St. Martin Parish to another location·View the Louisiana curfew laws overview
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