How Simi Valley Handles Curfew Laws: A Practical Guide

Simi Valley maintains 136 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 Simi Valley falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Juvenile Curfew

Minors under 18 may not be in any public place or business establishment in Simi Valley between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Parents who knowingly allow it face a misdemeanor and can be sued for civil penalties up to $2,500 per violation, on top of the minor's own citation.

Key details: Curfew hours: 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.. Applies to: Anyone under 18 years old. Violation classification: Misdemeanor, Sec. 5-14.02. Parental civil penalty: Up to $2,500 per violation. Officer duty: Must ask age/reason before citing.

A minor violating curfew, or a parent who knowingly allows it, is guilty of a misdemeanor under Section 5-14.02. A convicted violator's probation can require paying the City's prosecution costs (Section 5-14.04), and a parent or guardian faces a separate civil penalty up to $2,500 per violation plus possible police service billing, appealable to the City Manager within fifteen days.

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

Park Curfew

Simi Valley Recreation and Park District facilities close to loitering and overnight vehicles between 10:00 p.m. and dawn under the city's park conduct ordinance. School grounds carry a longer curfew, sundown to 7:00 a.m. Both bans exempt anyone attending a permitted gathering, and violators can be ejected on the spot by police or district staff.

Key details: Park curfew hours: 10:00 p.m. to dawn. School grounds curfew: Sundown to 7:00 a.m.. Enforcing authorities: SVRPD, school district, police. Permit exception: Attending a permitted gathering. Re-entry after ejection: Barred same calendar day.

Violating the after-hours curfew or ignoring a posted park rule is grounds for immediate ejection or expulsion by a peace officer, the Superintendent of Schools, or the Recreation and Park District's General Manager, who may eject a violator in lieu of arrest or citation (SVMC § 10-1.06(a)). Returning to the same park or school facility later the same calendar day after being ejected is a separate violation unless the ejecting authority allows it (§ 10-1.06(b)).

The Bottom Line

Simi Valley'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 Simi Valley is broadly strict or permissive.

These rules come from Simi Valley's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.