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Bucks County, PA Public Conduct: Loitering Rules (2026)

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

Key Facts

Standard hours
Sunrise to sunset daily, § 4(B)
Director's power
May close any area, any interval, § 4(C)
Trespass ban
Posted or fenced areas without a permit, § 9.24(A)
Fine range
$25-$100 ticket or up to $600 summary
Expulsion
6 months to 2 years, appeal in 10 business days

Summary

Bucks County parks run sunrise to sunset unless the Director sets different hours, and section 9.24(A) of the Park System Rules bars entering any area posted 'No Trespassing' or fenced off, or any area a closure sign marks off-limits, without a Department permit. Violators face Park Police citation and possible expulsion.

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

No person shall: A. Enter upon any grounds or enter into any fenced-in area that have been posted by the Department with "No Trespassing" signs or any sign that would indicate that the area is not open to the general public without first obtaining a permit issued by the Department.

Full Breakdown

Section 4(B) of the Bucks County Park System Rules and Regulations sets standard park hours at sunrise to sunset each day, unless the Director issues a general or specific notice establishing different hours; section 4(C) lets the Director close any section or part of a park entirely or for certain uses, temporarily or on a recurring schedule, for any interval the Director finds necessary. A handful of roadways, including portions of Chapman Road, Creek Road and New Galena Road in Peace Valley Park and County Way and Library Way in Bristol Township, stay open 24 hours for transient vehicle traffic regardless.

24(A) makes it a violation to enter upon any grounds or into any fenced-in area posted by the Department with 'No Trespassing' signs, or any sign indicating the area is not open to the general public, without first obtaining a permit from the Department. D). Anyone the Director closes an area to may appeal that closure in writing within 10 business days under section 4(C). § 16512. As with every rule in Ordinance No. 170, this trespass and closed-hours rule reaches only Bucks County's own park system; it says nothing about loitering on township or borough streets and sidewalks outside county parkland.

Violations & Fines

Trespassing in a posted, fenced, or closed park area is a summary offense under section 12(A): a fine up to $600 plus restitution and possible costs, or up to 10 days in jail on conviction before a district justice. The Department may instead issue a County Ordinance ticket of $25 to $100 under section 12(B), and the Director can expel a violator from the entire Park System for six months up to two years.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time do Bucks County parks close?
Sunrise to sunset, under section 4(B) of the Park System Rules, unless the Director posts different hours for a specific park or facility. Section 4(C) also lets the Director close all or part of any park at any time, for any interval, if necessary; a few roadways through Peace Valley Park and Bristol Township stay open around the clock for through traffic.
Can I be cited for being in a closed area of a county park?
Yes. Section 9.24(A) bars entering any grounds or fenced area posted 'No Trespassing' by the Department without a permit. Park Police can write a County Ordinance ticket of $25 to $100, refer the case for a summary conviction carrying a fine up to $600 and up to 10 days in jail, or ask the Director to expel you from the Park System.
Can I appeal a park closure or expulsion?
Yes. Anyone aggrieved by an area closure under section 4(C) can appeal to the Director in writing within 10 business days. A person expelled from the Park System under section 12(A) can separately appeal to the Bucks County Board of Commissioners in writing within 10 business days of being notified.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Bucks County

All Bucks County rules

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