How Lynnwood Handles Curfew Laws: A Practical Guide
Lynnwood maintains 115 local ordinances across all categories, and 2 of those deal specifically with curfew laws. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Lynnwood falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.
Park Curfew
Lynnwood parks close to loitering and parking between dusk and dawn under LMC 10.16.020(G). Lynndale Park, Meadowdale Playfields and Heritage Park have a hard 11:00 p.m. closure, and staying past curfew without director-approved special-event permission is a misdemeanor.
Key details: General curfew: Dusk to dawn, no loitering/parking. Hard-close parks: Lynndale, Meadowdale Playfields, Heritage Park at 11 p.m.. Exception: Director-approved scheduled event. Parking lots: Restricted to park users only. Penalty: Misdemeanor (LMC 10.16.030).
Any violation of LMC 10.16.020, including the dusk-to-dawn and 11:00 p.m. park curfew, is a misdemeanor under LMC 10.16.030. Entering an area a park has separately posted as restricted or closed carries its own misdemeanor penalty under LMC 10.16.035(E). The parks, recreation and cultural arts department administers the park rules and their director issues any special-event exception.
Juvenile Curfew
Lynnwood Municipal Code § 10.04.540 bars anyone under 18 from walking, riding, playing, loafing or lounging in any street, road, alley, park or plaza within city limits between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. The rule is enforced against the supervising adult, not the minor: a parent or guardian who lets a child break curfew faces a misdemeanor with a fine of up to $15.00.
Key details: Curfew hours: 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.. Who is liable: Parent, guardian, or supervising adult. Maximum fine: $15.00 per conviction. Covers: Streets, roads, alleys, public parks, plazas. Exceptions: Accompanied minors, errands, employment, medical needs.
Violating LMC 10.04.540 is charged against the responsible adult, not the minor: a parent, guardian, or other person in authority who permits a child to be out during curfew hours is guilty of a misdemeanor and fined not more than $15.00 upon conviction. The section sets its own fine cap, so the higher general misdemeanor penalties elsewhere in Title 10 do not apply to a curfew violation.
The Bottom Line
Lynnwood'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 Lynnwood is broadly strict or permissive.
All of the above reflects Lynnwood'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.