Arlington County, VA Public Conduct: Public Alcohol Use (2026)
Key Facts
- Open containers
- banned in all County parks/playgrounds
- Exception
- 6 named parks with joint ABC/County permit
- Permit parks
- Fort C.F. Smith, Clarendon Central, Gateway, Long Bridge, Penrose Square, Thomas Jefferson
- Specific fine in § 17-2
- none, defaults to § 1-6
- General penalty
- up to $2,500 fine or 30 days jail
Summary
Arlington County bans open alcoholic beverage containers in its public parks and playgrounds. Code § 17-2.A states plainly that "the possession of open alcoholic beverage containers is unlawful in public parks and playgrounds," with the sole exception of specific parks where the County Manager and Virginia ABC jointly issue an event permit.
A. The possession of open alcoholic beverage containers is unlawful in public parks and playgrounds. ... For purposes of this section, "alcoholic beverages" shall have the definition set forth in Virginia Code § 4.1-100. B. The prohibitions contained in § 17-2(a) shall not apply where such possession is allowed pursuant to licenses or permits issued by both the Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Board and the Arlington County Manager or designee. The County Manager may issue permits only for the following parks, and only for areas of such parks as are designated by the County Manager: Fort C. F. Smith Park, 2411 North 24th Street; Clarendon Central Park, 3140 Wilson Boulevard; and Gateway Park, 1300 Langston Boulevard; Long Bridge Park, 475 Long Bridge Drive; Penrose Square, 2597 Columbia Pike, and Thomas Jefferson Park, 3501 South 2nd Street.
Full Breakdown
Section 17-2 of the County Code, in the chapter on miscellaneous offenses, provides: "The possession of open alcoholic beverage containers is unlawful in public parks and playgrounds. " The ban is countywide, covering every County park and playground rather than a single named location. F. Smith Park, Clarendon Central Park, Gateway Park, Long Bridge Park, Penrose Square and Thomas Jefferson Park. The County Manager promulgates the permit regulations, which the County Board must review and approve, so a wedding, festival or beer garden wanting to serve alcohol in one of those six parks needs both a state ABC license and a County-issued permit before doing so, not just one or the other. No specific penalty is written into § 17-2 itself, so a violation defaults to the Code's general penalty provision at § 1-6.
Violations & Fines
Because § 17-2 sets no specific penalty, a violation falls under the general penalty at § 1-6: a fine of up to $2,500, imprisonment in the County Jail for up to 30 days, or both, with each day the violation continues treated as a separate offense unless otherwise stated. State law caps the maximum penalty where the local one would exceed it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drink a beer in an Arlington County park?
Which Arlington parks allow alcohol with a permit?
What is the penalty for an open container violation in an Arlington park?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Arlington County
Compare Arlington County to another location·View the Virginia public conduct overview
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