Tempe, AZ Curfew Laws: Park Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Curfew hours
- 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
- Lit-facility exception
- Extended to 12:00 midnight
- Civil fine range
- $100 to $1,000 per citation
- Habitual offender
- 3 violations in 24 months = misdemeanor
- Enforcing dept
- Community Services Dept. / Tempe Police
Summary
Tempe closes every city park, playground and golf course to the public between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. under Section 23-36 of the City Code, unless a park is posted otherwise. Parks with working area or athletic lighting stay open until midnight instead, and being on the grounds during closed hours requires written permission from the Community Services Director's designee.
No person shall trespass upon or be upon the grounds, other than public sidewalks or streets located therein, of any city park, playground or golf course without the express written permission of the official designated by the Community Services Director, between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., unless otherwise posted; provided, however, with respect to any city park, playground or golf course that is equipped with either general area or athletic lighting which is functioning, the closing time may be extended to 12:00 midnight.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: City Code: Supplement 33 Update 4 | Zoning and Development Code: Supplement 11 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
, recognizing that lit facilities support later evening use such as night games. Anyone on the grounds during closed hours needs express written permission from the official the Community Services Director designates for that purpose. The rule sits alongside companion sections in the same division: Section 23-37 bars unauthorized vehicles and unlicensed operators on park grounds at any time with a 5 mph limit on surfaced roadways, Section 23-38 caps unreserved ramada use at four hours, and Section 23-40 lists prohibited activities such as archery, glass containers and illegal drug possession.
Enforcement runs through Division 4's civil citation scheme: Section 23-81 makes park violations civil rather than criminal by default, and Section 23-84 sets the civil fine between $100 and $1,000 per occurrence, plus a $50 default penalty for failing to appear. Anyone found responsible for a park-rules violation three separate times within 24 months is charged criminally as a habitual offender under Section 23-87, a misdemeanor prosecuted by the Tempe City Prosecutor in Tempe Municipal Court rather than handled as a civil citation.
Violations & Fines
A first violation of the park curfew is a civil citation, not a crime: Section 23-84 sets the fine between $100 and $1,000, with an added $50 penalty for missing the court date. Three separate findings of responsibility within 24 months trigger criminal habitual-offender charges under Section 23-87, prosecuted as a misdemeanor in Tempe Municipal Court.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I stay in a Tempe park past 10 p.m. if it's lit for a night game?
Is walking through a Tempe park after hours on the sidewalk allowed?
What's the penalty for being in a Tempe park after curfew?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tempe
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Park Curfew in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Maricopa County handle park curfew.