Bakersfield, CA Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Curfew hours
- 10:00 p.m.–5:00 a.m.
- Who's covered
- Any person under 18 (minor)
- Adult exception
- Accompanied by parent/guardian/adult in charge
- Parent liability
- Separate offense under §9.44.020
- Section
- BMC §§ 9.44.010-9.44.020
Summary
Bakersfield Municipal Code § 9.44.010 bars minors under 18 from loitering on streets, in places of amusement or entertainment, or in other public places between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., unless accompanied by an adult or covered by a narrow set of exceptions.
It is unlawful for any minor, defined herein as a person under the age of eighteen, to loiter upon the streets of the city, in places of amusement or entertainment, or in other public places within the city, between the hours of ten p.m. and five a.m., unless: A. The minor is accompanied by a parent, guardian or other adult having control or charge of the minor; or B. The minor has gone to a place of amusement or entertainment, other than one at which liquor or tobacco is sold or served, prior to eight p.m., and has held over or been continued beyond ten p.m.; or C. The minor has left a place of amusement or entertainment, a place of employment, or social call after ten p.m., and is thereafter returning directly to his or her home or place of residence in a reasonable manner.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 5221, passed July 15, 2026).
Full Breakdown
m. and is returning directly home in a reasonable manner. 010 exceptions. The chapter was last amended by Ord. 020. Enforcement is not tied to a specific fine schedule within the chapter itself; violations of city ordinances are generally chargeable under the citywide general penalty provisions in Title 1.
Violations & Fines
A minor found loitering in a public place, street, or place of amusement between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. without qualifying for one of the § 9.44.010 exceptions can be cited or taken into custody by Bakersfield police. Separately, a parent, guardian or adult with custody of the minor can be cited under § 9.44.020 for knowingly permitting or allowing that loitering during the curfew window, independent of any citation issued to the minor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does Bakersfield's juvenile curfew start?
Can my teenager walk home from a late shift after curfew?
Can parents be cited if their child breaks curfew?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bakersfield
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Juvenile Curfew in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Kern County handle juvenile curfew.