Benton County, WA Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Weeknight curfew
- 10:30 p.m.-5:30 a.m., Sun-Thu nights
- Weekend curfew
- 1:00 a.m.-5:30 a.m., Fri-Sat nights
- Penalty
- misdemeanor under BCC 6.28.030
- Exempt persons
- active-duty military, married persons
- Parental liability
- separate misdemeanor, BCC 6.28.020
- Coverage area
- unincorporated Benton County only
- Enacted
- Ordinance 52 (1957)
Summary
Benton County Code 6.28.010 makes it a misdemeanor for anyone under eighteen to be on the streets, roads or other public places in unincorporated Benton County between 10:30 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. on Sunday through Thursday nights, with a shorter 1:00 a.m. to 5:30 a.m. window on Friday and Saturday nights. Parents face the same misdemeanor for allowing it.
UNLAWFUL FOR CHILD UNDER 18 YEARS TO BE ON THE STREETS AT DESIGNATED TIMES. It shall be unlawful for any boy or girl under the age of eighteen (18) years, to be or appear on the streets, roads, highways, or other public places in the County of Benton, State of Washington, during the following hours of each week to-wit: 10:30 P.M. Sunday to 5:30 A.M. Monday; 10:30 P.M. Monday to 5:30 A.M. Tuesday; 10:30 P.M. Tuesday to 5:30 A.M. Wednesday; 10:30 P.M. Wednesday to 5:30 A.M. Thursday; 10:30 P.M. Thursday to 5:30 A.M. Friday; 1:00 A.M. Saturday to 5:30 A.M. Saturday; 1:00 A.M. Sunday to 5:30 A.M. Sunday, without authority or permission of the Benton County Sheriff or county commissioners or any of them. PROVIDED, however, this chapter shall not apply to any boy or girl who may be on the streets or other public place accompanied by his parent or guardian, or in cases of necessity when such boy or girl has with him or her written permission of such parent or guardian, setting forth the grounds of such necessity and duties to be performed by such boy or girl, and such boy or girl be actually engaged in performing the duties for which such permission was granted.
Full Breakdown
window covering the Friday-into-Saturday and Saturday-into-Sunday overnight hours. " A proviso exempts any minor accompanied by a parent or guardian, or carrying written parental permission that sets out the necessity for being out and the duties to be performed. 020 makes it separately unlawful for a parent or guardian to permit or allow the child or ward to be out during those same hours "unless a case of necessity actually exists," so both the minor and the adult can be charged. 030 sets the penalty for either violation as a misdemeanor, Benton County's standard criminal-level penalty rather than a civil infraction.
040 exempts two classes outright: "military personnel on active duty and married persons shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter," regardless of age. Because the county is a Washington county, this chapter reaches only the unincorporated area; Kennewick, Richland, West Richland and Prosser each enforce their own separate municipal curfew ordinances within city limits.
Violations & Fines
Violating either the minor's curfew in BCC 6.28.010 or the parental-permission duty in BCC 6.28.020 is charged as a misdemeanor under BCC 6.28.030, Benton County's general criminal penalty rather than a fixed-dollar civil fine. The Benton County Sheriff's Office is the enforcing agency named in the chapter, and deputies may stop a minor found on a public street or road during the designated hours to check for a parent, guardian, or the required written necessity permission before a charge is referred.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Benton County's exact curfew hours for minors?
Can a minor be out with a parent after curfew in Benton County?
Can Benton County's sheriff charge a parent, not just the minor?
Is anyone exempt from the Benton County curfew regardless of age?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Benton County
Compare Benton County to another location·View the Washington curfew laws overview
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