Glendale's Curfew Laws: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles curfew laws a little differently. In Glendale, Arizona, 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

Glendale city parks are open daily from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. under Code Section 27-43, and no one may use a closed park except its public roadways. The parks and recreation director can post shorter or extended hours, close portions of a park, or order violators to leave, and staying after being ordered out is separately unlawful.

Key details: Citation: Glendale Code § 27-43. Park hours: 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily. Exception: Public roadways through parks stay open. Penalty: Misdemeanor or civil infraction (§ 27-37). Repeat offense: Up to 12-month park ban.

Under Section 27-37(a), being in a city park outside posted hours is a misdemeanor, with each day of continued violation counted as a separate offense, or the city may instead treat it as a civil code infraction under Chapter 13, Article II. Section 27-37(c) additionally lets the parks and recreation director bar a repeat or serious violator from all city parks and recreational facilities for up to 12 months after notice and a hearing.

Juvenile Curfew

Glendale bars minors under 16 from being out in public between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., and minors 16 and 17 between midnight and 5:00 a.m. Parents who knowingly allow a violation face the same class 1 misdemeanor charge as the minor.

Key details: Under 16 curfew: 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.. Ages 16-17 curfew: midnight to 5:00 a.m.. Penalty class: class 1 misdemeanor. Parent liability: knowing permission or insufficient control. Governing division: Ch. 26, Art. III, Div. 1.

A violation of any part of Division 1, sections 26-53 through 26-56, is a class 1 misdemeanor under section 26-56, and Arizona designates it an incorrigible offense for juvenile court purposes. Each violation of section 26-53(a), (b), (c), or (d) is charged as a separate offense, so a minor's curfew violation and a parent's failure to retrieve the minor can each carry their own count.

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

The Bottom Line

Glendale'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 Glendale is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Glendale 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.