Redding's Curfew Laws: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles curfew laws a little differently. In Redding, 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.

Juvenile Curfew

Redding Municipal Code Section 10.50.020 bars anyone under eighteen from loitering on streets, parks, or other public places between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. under Section 10.50.010's definition of curfew hours. Parents who knowingly let a minor violate curfew face their own citation, escalating from an infraction to a misdemeanor.

Key details: Curfew hours: 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily. School-day loitering ban: 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.. Juvenile fine: Up to $250 or 20 hrs service. Repeat parent violation: Misdemeanor, up to $1,000/6 mo.. Governing chapter: RMC Ch. 10.50.

Section 10.50.060 punishes a juvenile's first curfew infraction with a fine up to $250 or up to twenty hours of community service completed outside school and work hours within sixty days. A parent who ignores a prior warning and lets the violation happen again can be cited for an infraction, and any subsequent parental violation becomes a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in county jail, a fine up to $1,000, or both.

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

Park Curfew

Redding Municipal Code § 10.20.030 closes every city park facility outside the days and hours posted for public use, and § 10.20.150(C) backs that curfew by banning vehicles from parking in a park during its closed hours. Community services enforces both under Chapter 10.20.

Key details: Governing section: Redding Municipal Code § 10.20.030. Closing hours source: Set by posted signage at each park. Vehicle curfew: No parking in a park when closed (§ 10.20.150(C)). Enforcement options: Criminal, administrative, or civil action (§ 10.20.200). Exceptions: Waived for permitted city or special events.

Redding Municipal Code § 10.20.200 lets the city enforce any Chapter 10.20 violation, including being in a park after posted closing hours, three ways: criminally under Chapter 1.12, administratively under Chapters 1.13, 1.14 or 1.15, or through a civil action filed by the city attorney in Shasta County Superior Court. Absent a specific penalty in the chapter, the Chapter 1.12 default applies: a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 fine or six months in jail, or an infraction fined up to $100 for a first offense.

The Bottom Line

Redding'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 Redding is broadly strict or permissive.

This guide is based on Redding's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.