Clovis's Curfew Laws: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles curfew laws a little differently. In Clovis, California, there are 2 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Park Curfew

Clovis Municipal Code Section 10.3.02(9) bars anyone from remaining, staying, or loitering in a public park between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., unless they are in a portion of the park set aside for overnight camping. Loitering after hours without the Facilities Manager's written permission is enforced as a park ordinance violation.

Key details: Governing section: Clovis Municipal Code § 10.3.02(9). Curfew hours: 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.. Exception: Designated overnight camping areas. Applies to: All City parks, trails, and parking lots. First offense: Warning under § 10.3.05.

Loitering in a Clovis park after 10:00 p.m. or before 7:00 a.m. without written permission from the Facilities Manager is a violation of Section 10.3.02, enforced by Clovis Police patrols and City park staff. Under Section 10.3.05's suspension schedule, a first offense at any park draws a warning, while a second offense at any park within a 30-day period results in a 30-day suspension from all City parks, with penalties escalating further for repeat violations.

Juvenile Curfew

Clovis bans anyone under 18 from being in any public place or on the premises of a business open to the public between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. every night. Municipal Code Chapter 5.7 also holds parents, guardians, and business operators liable if they knowingly let a minor stay out or remain on the premises during those curfew hours.

Key details: Curfew window: 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.. Applies to: anyone under 18. Enforcing agency: Clovis Police Department. Exceptions: 9 statutory defenses (§5.7.05). Max penalty: $1,000 fine or 6 months jail.

A curfew violation is punishable under Section 1.2.01: a misdemeanor carrying up to a $1,000 fine and/or up to six months in jail unless the City Attorney or the court treats it as an infraction, which tops out at $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second within a year, and $500 for each further offense. Minors are processed under the Welfare and Institutions Code, and the City may also recover its actual transportation and administrative costs.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Clovis actively enforces its juvenile curfew requirements.

The Bottom Line

Clovis's curfew laws rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Clovis is broadly strict or permissive.

All of the above reflects Clovis's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.