How Wichita Falls Handles Curfew Laws: A Practical Guide

Wichita Falls maintains 56 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 Wichita Falls falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Juvenile Curfew

Wichita Falls repealed its juvenile curfew ordinance in 2023, deleting Article IV of the offenses chapter entirely, so no citywide curfew currently restricts minors' movement at night.

Key details: Status: Repealed citywide, no curfew in effect. Repeal ordinance: Ordinance 39-2023, adopted July 18, 2023. Former citation: Chapter 78, Article IV (now Reserved). Context: Same year Texas HB 1819 took effect.

None: since there is no curfew ordinance, police cannot cite or detain minors for being out at night based on age or curfew hours alone.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Wichita Falls gives residents more flexibility on juvenile curfew.

Park Curfew

City parks in Wichita Falls close at midnight and stay closed until 5:00 a.m., with loitering or playing inside during that window unlawful.

Key details: Closed hours: Midnight to 5:00 a.m.. Exempt parks: Lake Arrowhead only. Exception: Special permit from director. Governing code: City Code § 82-67.

Violating the park curfew is a Class C misdemeanor citation issued by police or park staff; a special-use permit from parks and recreation is the only exception.

The Bottom Line

Wichita Falls'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 Wichita Falls is broadly strict or permissive.

All of the above reflects Wichita Falls'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.