Juvenile Curfew: Santa Rosa vs Sonoma

Is there a juvenile curfew in unincorporated Sonoma County?

No - the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors has not adopted a county-wide juvenile curfew ordinance. A 1997 proposal would have set an 11 p.m. weeknight and midnight weekend curfew, but it was not enacted. Minors in unincorporated communities like Guerneville, Forestville, Glen Ellen, Geyserville, and the Russian River corridor are not subject to a time-based curfew, though they remain subject to all other laws (alcohol, drugs, trespass, etc.) and to truancy enforcement during school hours.

Do Sonoma County cities have curfews?

Yes. Most incorporated cities in Sonoma County maintain juvenile curfew ordinances in their municipal codes - Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Sonoma, Healdsburg, Rohnert Park, Windsor, Cotati, Sebastopol, and Cloverdale generally restrict minors under 18 from public places between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 or 6:00 a.m., with the standard exceptions for being with a parent, traveling to or from work or school, attending a religious or organized event, or responding to an emergency. Check the specific city's municipal code; for example Santa Rosa City Code Ch. 9-12 or Petaluma Municipal Code 9.16.

What can the Sheriff do if my teen is out late in unincorporated Sonoma County?

Without a county curfew ordinance, the Sonoma County Sheriff cannot cite a minor solely for being out late in unincorporated areas. Deputies can still respond to specific concerns - if a minor is intoxicated (Business & Professions Code 25662), trespassing, in possession of contraband, or appears to be a runaway or otherwise endangered (W&I Code 300/601). The Sheriff can take a minor into protective custody under W&I Code Sec. 625 if there is reasonable cause to believe the minor is a danger to self or others, and contact Sonoma County Probation or transport to the juvenile detention facility on Los Guilicos Road.

Does the City of Sonoma have a curfew for minors?

No, the city's municipal code does not include a general nighttime juvenile curfew ordinance. State daytime truancy law (Educ. Code §48264) still applies during school hours.

What if there's a wildfire evacuation?

During declared emergencies, the Sonoma County Sheriff can impose a temporary curfew under Cal. Penal Code §409.5. Violating it is a misdemeanor.

Can my child still be cited for being out late?

Not under a city curfew. They could be cited for any underlying conduct (alcohol, vandalism, trespass), and parents may face civil liability under Cal. Civ. Code §1714.1.