Council enacts Ordinance 964 to criminalize prohibited uses on conserved county lands

Summit County adopted Ordinance No. 964 to create a trespass offense covering prohibited uses on conserved lands owned or controlled by the county and its districts. County counsel said the ordinance is designed to add criminal enforcement where land was acquired with restrictive covenants or conservation easements.

The ordinance defines "conserved lands" (including leases, easements and deed restrictions), lists 16 county properties currently covered and specifies conspicuous signage and QR code links to ordinance language and management plans. Posted, property‑wide prohibitions (for example, "no hunting") will trigger criminal enforcement under the ordinance; temporary posted closures for seasonal resource protection will use a related posting rule. The ordinance also makes it unlawful to intentionally deface or destroy signage.

Council members discussed permitted uses (the ordinance makes fishing allowable in some cases), signage frequency (county staff suggested posting every 500 feet where appropriate), and how the county will selectively add properties to the list as acquisitions or easements change. The ordinance sets criminal penalties consistent with local misdemeanors, including potential fines and up to six months in jail for Class B offenses; the council approved the ordinance as amended.