Tallahassee, FL Curfew Laws: Park Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Default hours
- Sunrise to sunset
- Lit courts
- May stay open past sunset
- Violation type
- Noncriminal offense
- Immediate consequence
- Ejection or trespass warning
- Trespass warning length
- Up to 180 days, all parks
- Governing section
- Code of General Ordinances § 13-33
Summary
Tallahassee city parks close at dusk. Code of General Ordinances § 13-33 sets default hours of sunrise to sunset unless the parks director posts different hours, and lit courts can stay open after dark. Staying in a park past closing is a noncriminal offense that can get you ejected or issued a trespass warning on the spot.
If not specifically posted, hours of operation shall be sunrise to sunset, except in areas clearly illuminated for park use (i.e., lighted tennis or basketball courts), or hours specified in a permit....It shall be unlawful for any person to enter or remain in any city park during such hours as the park is closed to public use. Violation of this subsection shall constitute a noncriminal offense and shall be grounds for immediate ejection from the park or issuance by a law enforcement officer of a trespass warning, or both.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Land Development Code: Supplement 75 | Code of Ordinances: Supplement 75).
Full Breakdown
Section 13-33 lets the director of parks and recreation install signs at each city park stating its opening and closing hours. Where no sign is posted, the default under § 13-33(a) is sunrise to sunset, with two carve-outs: areas that are clearly illuminated for park use, such as lighted tennis or basketball courts, and any hours specifically set out in a permit issued for the park. Under § 13-33(b), the director can amend a given park's hours at any time as long as the change stays consistent with the article's purposes, so hours are not uniform citywide and a specific park's posted sign controls over the sunrise-to-sunset default.
Section 13-33(c) makes it unlawful to enter or remain in a city park while it is closed to public use. That is classified as a noncriminal offense, and the consequence is immediate ejection from the park, a trespass warning from a law enforcement officer, or both. The trespass-warning power itself comes from § 13-36, which lets officers bar a violator from all city parks for up to 180 days for enforcing this chapter, a department rule, a facility-use permit, or state law. ch. 810. If the person warned is a minor, the officer must notify a parent or legal guardian and keep a record of the violation.
Violations & Fines
Being in a city park after posted or default closing hours is a noncriminal offense under § 13-33(c): the standard response is immediate ejection, a law-enforcement trespass warning, or both. A trespass warning issued under § 13-36 can bar someone from every city park for up to 180 days, and returning to any city park while that warning is active is arrestable criminal trespass under F.S. ch. 810.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do Tallahassee city parks close?
What happens if I'm caught in a Tallahassee park after hours?
How long does a park trespass warning last?
Do all Tallahassee parks have the same hours?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tallahassee
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