How St. Louis Handles Curfew Laws: A Practical Guide

St. Louis maintains 156 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 St. Louis falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Park Curfew

St. Louis parks and playgrounds close to loitering from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. year-round under Revised Code § 22.18.010.

Key details: Citywide park curfew: 10:00 p.m.–6:00 a.m.. Applies: Every day, year-round. Fine range: $1.00 to $500.00. Enforcing dept: Parks, Recreation and Forestry. Some parks: Have their own stricter hours.

Violating the park curfew is punishable by a fine of not less than $1.00 nor more than $500.00 under § 22.18.050.

Juvenile Curfew

St. Louis bars anyone under 17 from city streets after 11 p.m. on weeknights, midnight on weekends, unless an exemption applies.

Key details: Curfew starts (Sun–Thu): 11:00 p.m.. Curfew starts (Fri–Sat): 11:59 p.m.. Curfew ends: 5:00 a.m.. Covers ages: under 17. Parent pickup window: 45 minutes minimum.

First offense: written warning to juvenile and parent. A second violation within 12 months makes the parent liable for a fine of $100–$500, up to 90 days imprisonment, or both, under § 15.110.070.

The Bottom Line

St. Louis'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 St. Louis is broadly strict or permissive.

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