Martin County, FL Public Conduct: Loitering Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Parks covered
- New Monrovia, Lamar Howard, Banner Lake (Staff Sgt. Johnson)
- Restricted hours
- During REACH, GAAP and BLAST program hours
- Who may stay
- Program participants, parents, staff and volunteers only
- Also banned
- Alcohol and glass containers in park and adjacent ROW
- Penalty
- Up to 60 days jail or $500 fine
- Governing section
- Sec. 17.9.I, .J, .K, Ch. 17 Code of Ordinances
Summary
Martin County closes New Monrovia Park, Lamar Howard Park and the Staff Sgt. Justin Johnson Memorial Park at Banner Lake to the general public during REACH, GAAP and BLAST after-school program hours, and bars loitering in the adjacent streets and rights-of-way while a program is running, under Sec. 17.9.I, .J and .K.
17.9.I.Additional rules and regulations for New Monrovia Park.1.Entry to and use of the park, and loitering in the adjacent streets and rights-of-way, by the general public are prohibited during the hours of operation of the Residents Empowering All Childrens' Hope (REACH) Program. During the hours of operation of the REACH Program, use of the park will be limited exclusively to Program participants, parents or guardians of participants, Program employees and Program volunteer staff.2.No alcoholic beverages are allowed in the park or in any right-of-way adjacent thereto.3.The park may not be used for any purpose between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. except as permitted in writing by the County.4.No glass containers are allowed in the park.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 62 | Land Development Regulations: Supplement 62).
Full Breakdown
Martin County's Parks and Recreation rules single out three neighborhood parks for a program-hours access ban. Under Sec. I, entry to and use of New Monrovia Park, and loitering in the adjacent streets and rights-of-way, is prohibited to the general public during the hours the Residents Empowering All Childrens' Hope (REACH) Program operates; only Program participants, their parents or guardians, Program employees and volunteers may be on site while REACH is running. Sec. J applies the identical structure to Lamar Howard Park during the Golden Gate After School Alternative Program (GAAP), and Sec.
K applies it to the Staff Sgt. Justin Johnson Memorial Park at Banner Lake during the Banner Lake After School Time Program (BLAST), each adding County staff to the exempted list. All three sections layer three further restrictions on top of the general Sec. absent written County permission, and no glass containers. These provisions sit inside Sec. 9, Rules and regulations for Martin County parks, in Chapter 17 of the Martin County Code of Ordinances.
Violations & Fines
Sec. 17.4.B makes violation of section 17.9, including the loitering restriction, grounds for a County employee or law enforcement officer to order the violator to leave; refusing to leave is a trespass under Florida law. Sec. 17.4.A separately makes violating any provision of Chapter 17 a misdemeanor under F.S. § 125.69, punishable by up to 60 days in jail, a fine of up to $500.00, or both.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I hang out on the sidewalk outside New Monrovia Park during REACH hours?
Does the loitering ban apply all day, every day?
What happens if I refuse to leave when told?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Martin County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Martin County to another location·View the Florida public conduct overview
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