Curfew Laws in El Paso, TX: What Residents Actually Need to Know
If you live in El Paso or are thinking about moving there, curfew laws are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. El Paso has 2 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of curfew laws, and some of them might surprise you.
Juvenile Curfew
El Paso enforces an 11 p.m.-to-6 a.m. curfew for minors under 17, City Code §§ 10.20.010-10.20.054, most recently readopted with amendments in 2020. The ordinance holds parents liable for knowingly allowing a curfew violation or for failing to retrieve a cited minor within two hours of notice, and the city reviews the ordinance every three years to satisfy Texas Local Government Code § 370.002.
Key details: Curfew hours: 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.. Applies to: Minors under 17. Parental liability: Knowing violation or 2-hr pickup failure. Statutory review: Every 3 years, Tex. Loc. Gov't Code § 370.002. Max fine: Up to $500, misdemeanor.
Under § 10.20.050, a minor who violates curfew is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by the fine set in §§ 1.08.010-1.08.030 (up to $500) and may face juvenile-court action; a parent who violates the parental provisions of § 10.20.020 faces the same misdemeanor fine. Each day of a continuing violation is a separate offense under § 1.08.020.
Compared to other cities, El Paso takes a harder line on juvenile curfew. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.
Park Curfew
El Paso closes its city parks overnight: 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. from October through April, and 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. from May through September. City Code Section 13.24.040 lets downtown-district parks stay open until 1 a.m., and any later hours require a director-issued temporary permit.
Key details: Winter closure: 10 p.m.–6 a.m., Oct 1–Apr 30. Summer closure: 11 p.m.–6 a.m., May 1–Sep 30. Downtown parks: Open until 1 a.m.. Later hours: Require a director permit. Exempt persons: Peace officers, medics, city/utility staff on duty.
Being in a city park during closed hours without a qualifying exception or permit is a code violation subject to the citywide misdemeanor penalty of a fine up to five hundred dollars under Section 1.08.010, with each night of continued presence potentially charged as a separate offense under Section 1.08.020. Park rangers or police can also eject violators from the closed area.
The Bottom Line
El Paso'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 El Paso is broadly strict or permissive.
Keep in mind that El Paso can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.