How Provo Handles Curfew Laws: A Practical Guide

Provo maintains 142 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 Provo falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Juvenile Curfew

Provo City Code 9.14.290 sets an 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew for minors 15 and under, and for 16- and 17-year-olds Sunday through Thursday, with a later 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. window Friday and Saturday nights. Parents who knowingly allow a violation face liability too.

Key details: Under-16 curfew: 11 p.m.-5 a.m., every night. 16-17 curfew (Sun-Thu): 11 p.m.-5 a.m.. 16-17 curfew (Fri/Sat night): 1 a.m.-5 a.m.. Offense level: Class B misdemeanor. Max penalty: $1,000 fine or 6 months jail.

Violating the curfew, or a parent knowingly allowing it or refusing to retrieve a cited minor, is a class B misdemeanor under Subsection (6)(d), punishable under Provo City Code 1.03.010(1) by up to a $1,000 fine, up to six months in jail, or both.

Compared to other cities, Provo takes a harder line on juvenile curfew. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Park Curfew

Provo City Code 9.19.030 closes every City park between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., barring anyone on foot, on horseback, or in a vehicle except when passing directly through on a public street or sidewalk. Overnight vehicle parking is banned except in posted canyon trailhead lots.

Key details: Curfew window: 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. daily. Exception: Passing straight through on street/sidewalk. Overnight parking: Banned except posted canyon trailhead lots. Named trailhead lots: Big Springs, South Fork, Rock Canyon, Slate Canyon. Default penalty: Up to $1,000 fine or 6 months jail.

Being in a City park during the 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew, outside the pass-through exception, is prohibited conduct under Section 9.19.030 and defaults to a class B misdemeanor under Provo's general penalty section 1.03.010(1): up to a $1,000 fine, up to six months in jail, or both.

The Bottom Line

Provo'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 Provo is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Provo 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.