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Washington County, MN Curfew Laws: Park Curfew (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Park hours
6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily
Conservation area hours
Sunrise to sunset
Boat launch hours
Open until 11:00 p.m.
After-hours access
Requires a Use Permit from Parks Division
Penalty
Misdemeanor under Minn. Stat. §§398.31-398.35
Contact
Washington County Parks, (651) 430-4300

Summary

Washington County parks are open to the public daily from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., and conservation areas run sunrise to sunset, under Parks Ordinance #218. Entering or remaining in a park or conservation area outside those hours without a Use Permit is unlawful, and violating the ordinance is a misdemeanor.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Washington County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

a. Parks shall be open to the public daily from 6:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. unless otherwise designated by the Director. It shall be unlawful for any person to enter or remain in a park at any other time without a use permit. b. Conservation areas shall be open to the public daily from sunrise until sunset unless otherwise designated by the Director. It shall be unlawful for any person to enter or remain in a conservation area at any other time without a use permit. c. Boat launches shall be open until 11:00 p.m. for recovery of watercraft.

View official code

Full Breakdown

35, sets the daily public-use window for the county's park system, managed by the Washington County Parks Division out of 1515 Keats Avenue North in Lake Elmo. unless the Parks Director designates different hours, and it is unlawful to enter or remain in a park outside that window without a Use Permit (§ 1(a)). Conservation areas, defined separately from developed parks, run sunrise to sunset on the same unlawful-without-a-permit basis (§ 1(b)). so visitors can retrieve watercraft after dark (§ 1(c)). Beyond the standard schedule, the Director holds broad authority to close any park or portion of one at any time for the protection of park property or for public health, safety, or welfare (§ 1(d)), independent of the posted hours. , or past sunset in a conservation area, is a violation regardless of intent.

Violations & Fines

Being in a park after 10:00 p.m., in a conservation area after sunset, or at a boat launch after 11:00 p.m. without a Use Permit is unlawful under Chapter II § 1, and under Chapter I § 2's grant of authority (Minnesota Statutes §§ 398.31-398.35) any violation of the Parks Ordinance is a misdemeanor.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time do Washington County parks close?
Parks close at 10:00 p.m. and reopen at 6:00 a.m. under Chapter II, Section 1 of Parks Ordinance #218. Conservation areas follow a sunrise-to-sunset schedule instead, and it is unlawful to be in either type of area outside those hours unless you hold a Use Permit from the Parks Division.
Can I launch or retrieve a boat after the park closes?
Boat launches stay open later than the rest of the park, until 11:00 p.m., specifically so visitors can recover watercraft, per § 1(c). After 11:00 p.m. the same after-hours rules and Use Permit requirement apply as everywhere else in the park.
What happens if I'm caught in a park after hours?
Entering or remaining in a park after 10:00 p.m., or a conservation area after sunset, without a Use Permit violates § 1 of the Parks Ordinance, and under the Board's authority in Minnesota Statutes §§ 398.31-398.35 any violation of the Parks Ordinance is prosecuted as a misdemeanor.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Washington County

Juvenile CurfewSignificant RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor SoundSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSignificant RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Fence Permit RequirementsSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Neighbor Fence RulesLight Restrictions

All Washington County rules

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