Santa Clara County, CA Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)

Unincorporated Santa Clara County does not maintain a comprehensive juvenile curfew ordinance prohibiting minors from being in public spaces during nighttime hours. Several incorporated cities in the county have curfew ordinances: San Jose Municipal Code 10.36 prohibits minors under 18 from being in public between 11:30 PM and 5 AM on weekdays and midnight to 5 AM on weekends. Gilroy and Morgan Hill have similar ordinances. However, in unincorporated areas, enforcement relies on California state laws including Welfare and Institutions Code 601 (habitual truancy), Penal Code 653b (loitering near schools by adults), and the state daytime loitering law for school hours. Parents can face parental responsibility citations if their minor child repeatedly violates municipal curfews in cities where they exist. Exceptions to any applicable city curfew typically include minors accompanied by a parent or guardian, traveling to or from work, attending a supervised event, responding to an emergency, or exercising First Amendment rights. Enforcement in the county is generally low-priority unless tied to other criminal activity.