Chatham County, GA Curfew Laws: Park Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Neighborhood park hours
- 8:00 a.m. to dark, daily
- Other park curfew (fall/winter)
- 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.
- Other park curfew (spring/summer)
- 11:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.
- General penalty
- $10 to $100 fine or 30 days jail
- Golf course path fine
- $50 flat fine
Summary
Chatham County's twelve unincorporated neighborhood parks are open from 8:00 a.m. until dark daily. Its other county parks and grounds close overnight: 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. in fall and winter, and 11:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. in spring and summer, under Code Sec. 23-101.
§23-101 Park Hours. 1. The following enumerated neighborhood parks... will open for use at 8:00 a.m. each morning and will close to use at dark each evening... 2. It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to be present, stand around or assemble in any County owned or operated parks, grounds or recreational facilities between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. in the fall and winter and 11:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. in the spring and summer with the exception of Neighborhood Parks as identified in Section 23-101, paragraph 1, which shall be open from 8:00 a.m. until dark each day.
Full Breakdown
Sec. each morning and close at dark each evening. Sec. -to-dark schedule instead. Sec. 23-101(3) separately bans camping in any county park, ground, or recreational facility except with a permit for a county-authorized event; "camping" is defined broadly to include sleeping outdoors, being in a temporary shelter, or cooking over an open flame, and a person must do more than merely fall asleep to be in violation. Sec. 23-101(4), adopted March 13, 2015, bars walking, running, exercising, or bringing a domestic animal onto the golf cart paths or trails of the Henderson Golf Course during the course's operating hours, carrying a flat $50 fine, with an exception for service animals of course members or guests.
Sec. 23-104 sets the chapter's general penalty: conviction before the Recorder's Court of Chatham County carries a fine of $10 to $100, or up to 30 days in the county jail, or both.
Violations & Fines
Being present in a county park, ground, or recreational facility during the posted overnight curfew hours, or camping there without an event permit, is a violation of Chapter 23. Conviction before the Recorder's Court of Chatham County under Sec. 23-104 carries a fine of not less than $10 nor more than $100, or up to 30 days in the county jail, or both, at the trial judge's discretion; a person under 18 who has received a warning is treated the same way on a repeat violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do Chatham County's neighborhood parks close?
Can I be in a Chatham County park at midnight in July?
What is the penalty for violating Chatham County's park curfew?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chatham County
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