Santa Barbara County, CA Curfew Laws: Park Curfew (2026)

County park hours in the unincorporated area are set by the Santa Barbara County Code, Chapter 26 (Parks and Recreation). Section 26-10 (Park hours of operation) provides that county park facilities will be open for public use no later than 8:00 a.m. in the morning and will be closed at sunset, and that the County Director of Community Services is authorized to establish such other hours of operation as may be determined appropriate. It is unlawful for any person to use park facilities outside of the hours of operation posted within or at the entry of a county park. Enforcement is handled by the Community Services Department, park operations managers, and park rangers, who are authorized to issue citations under Chapter 26. Penalties for violating Chapter 26 (Section 26-6) are calibrated as a continuing-violation scheme: a violation may be charged as an infraction or a misdemeanor at the district attorney's discretion. As an infraction, fines run up to $100 for a first violation, up to $200 for a second violation within one year, and up to $500 for each additional violation within a year; as a misdemeanor, the penalty is a fine up to $500, up to six months in jail, or both. Posted hours at a specific park control, so always check the signage at the park entrance.