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Earlier editions: 2026-09

Chapter 20 — PARKS AND RECREATION

Sonoma County Municipal Code § 20-22 Closing

Sonoma County Municipal Code · 2026-10 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · Sonoma County

Cite as: Sonoma County Municipal Code § 20-22 · Text as of 2026-10-04

Sec. 20-19. - Recreation confined to specific areas.

No person shall drive, putt or in any other fashion, play or practice golf or use golf balls, or fly model airplanes on or over land, or operate model boats or model automobiles, or model craft of any kind or description, or other activities that endanger or disturb persons, in the park, except in areas set aside for these specific activities in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed by the park authority.

(Ord. No. 1832 § 2.)

Exceptions & meaning →

Sec. 20-20. - Gatherings and meetings.

No person shall hold, conduct, participate in, attend or address any meeting, organized gatherings or assemblage, group, picnic, celebration, parade, service or exercise of twenty-five (25) or more persons, in any park or recreation area without a written permit granted by the park authority.

(Ord. No. 1832 § 2.)

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Sec. 20-21. - Curfew.

The park authority may, from time to time, by order, declare curfew for juveniles in any area of the park upon a finding that conditions therein are such as to warrant special measures for the protection of juveniles and others and for the safety and welfare of the general public.

(a) Such curfew order shall specify the hours thereof and the period therefor and shall be posted.

(b) When curfew has been so ordered, no juvenile so prohibited shall, during the effective period enter or remain therein, except as follows:

(1) One who is accompanied by a parent or guardian;

(2) One who is part of a group permitted to occupy a park area and who is supervised by at least one responsible adult for each fifteen (15) juveniles;

(3) One who is lawfully camping, having furnished to the local park authority written consent of and the full name, residence number, and telephone number of the juvenile's parent or guardian, with the inclusive dates for which permission is granted to camp at the park's location involved.

(Ord. No. 1832 § 2.)

Exceptions & meaning →

Sec. 20-22. - Closing.

The park authority may establish closing hours for any portion of the park. Closing hours shall be posted. No person shall enter or be present in a park after closing hours or in areas designated closed except park employees or persons designated by the park authority.

(Ord. No. 1832 § 2.)

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Sec. 20-23. - Peace and quiet.

To insure peace and adequate rest for visitors, no person shall so conduct himself in a disorderly manner that he/ she disturbs others in sleeping quarters or in campgrounds between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. daily.

(Ord. No. 1832 § 2.)

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Sec. 20-24. - Fees.

No person other than one acting under written authorization of the park authority shall use, occupy or otherwise remain in a building structure, facility, parking area, picnic area, campsite, or other areas within the boundaries of the park for which a fee is charged and a permit issued unless that person has paid the required fee and possesses a valid permit.

(a) The Board of Supervisors may, by resolution, from time to me, require the payment of fees by persons using any park. The resolution shall state the amounts of the fees, direct the park authority to give posted notice of the fees at the entrances to each park affected and be published in a newspaper of general circulation within the county once prior to the expiration of fifteen (15) days following the adoption of the resolution.

(b) Overnight camping means the use of facilities any time from one calendar day until the vacating time of 2 p.m. of the following calendar day or portion thereof. Day use covers any time between one half hour before sunrise to one half hour after sunset on one calendar day.

(Ord. No. 1832 § 2.)

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Sec. 20-25. - Camping.

No person shall camp in any part of the park except in areas designated and posted for that purpose. Camping is defined as erecting a tent or shelter or arranging bedding, or both, for the purposes of, or in such a way as will permit, remaining overnight. Use of houseboats or boats, or both, or any of them, for the purpose of sleeping, during the nighttime hours, whether anchored, moored, or beached, is also defined as camping.

(a) No person who is a juvenile shall camp in any part of the park except as follows:

(1) A juvenile who is accompanied by a parent or guardian;

(2) A juvenile who furnishes the park authority the written consent of and the full name, residence and telephone number of parent or guardian. Such written consent shall contain the inclusive dates and park location applicable.

(b) Applications for overnight camping permits shall be made in person to the proper park authority in the form and manner and subject to such reasonable conditions as shall be required from time to time by resolution of the Board of Supervisors. Permits shall be issued with a minimum of delay and inconvenience to the applicant. No permit shall be issued for continuous occupancy of more than ten (10) days' duration, nor shall any applicant be issued permits for more than thirty (30) days in any one calendar year, except upon resolution of the Board of Supervisors upon a showing of good cause by the applicant.

(Ord. No. 934 § 4).

(c) Normally, the number of vehicles and persons occupying a campsite shall not exceed two vehicles and eight (8) persons; however, the park authority may authorize a greater or lesser number when constructed facilities so warrant.

(Ord. No. 1832 § 2.)

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Sec. 20-26. - Horseback riding and hitching.

No person shall ride, drive, lead, or keep a saddle horse or other animal in the Park except on such roads, beaches, trails, or areas so designated and posted by the park authority. No horse or other animal shall be hitched to any tree, shrub, or structure in any manner that might cause damage thereto.

(Ord. No. 1832 § 2.)

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Sec. 20-27. - Hiking and riding trails.

No person shall ride any saddle animal on a hiking and riding trail in a manner that might endanger life or limb or any other person or animal, and no person shall allow his saddle or pack animal to stand unattended or insecurely tied on park property.

All persons using a hiking and riding trail shall respect the rights of property owners along the trail and shall not trespass on their property or privacy in any way.

(Ord. No. 1832 § 2.)

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Sec. 20-28. - Swimming areas.

No person shall swim or wade in the water or reservoirs, lakes, streams, or other bodies of water in the park except in those areas so designated.

All persons using swimming areas in the park shall obey and abide by the rules and regulations and instructions of the park lifeguard, or other employees authorized to enforce rules and regulations of the park.

(Ord. No. 1832 § 2.)

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Sec. 20-29. - Boating.

All persons operating or having control over boats using the waters of reservoirs, lakes, streams, or other bodies of water in the park shall obey and abide by the rules and regulations of the park authority authorized to enforce the rules and regulations of the park.

(a) No person shall use or operate any boat in a reckless or negligent manner so as to endanger the life, limb, or property of any person.

(b) No person shall use or operate any boat unless they are wearing in such boat at all times, a United States Coast Guard approved flotation device for each occupant.

(c) No boats shall be operated within 100 feet of any fishing boat or within 100 feet of shoreline fishermen except when docking.

(d) All boats must meet all applicable Coast Guard, state and federal registration, safety and other boating requirements and regulations.

(e) All inflatable craft which are operated on any waters of reservoirs, lakes, streams, or other bodies of water in the park that is navigable by boats limited to said waters, shall meet the following requirements:

(1) Must have more than one (1) air compartment;

(2) The material must be of a rubberized material such as neoprene, hypalon, or one of the various combinations of vinyl and rubberized canvas. All seams must be jointed and laminated. No PVC inflatable boats will be permitted.

(Ord. No. 1832 § 2.)

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Sec. 20-29.5. - Launching Ramps and Docks.

No person shall use or cause to be used any public boat launching ramp or dock in any park for commercial purposes. As used herein, the phrase "commercial purposes" includes but is not limited to the loading or unloading of passengers for hire, or fish, or seafood products, by a commercial fishing vessel, but does not include the launch or retrieval of such a vessel.

(Ord. No. 3981, 1988.)

Exceptions & meaning →

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