Hennepin County, MN Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Under 12
- 9 p.m. Sun-Thu, 10 p.m. Fri-Sat
- Ages 12-14
- 10 p.m. Sun-Thu, 11 p.m. Fri-Sat
- Ages 15-17
- 11 p.m. Sun-Thu, 12:01 a.m. Sat-Sun
- All tiers end
- 5:00 a.m.
- Adopted
- December 20, 1994
Summary
Hennepin County bars juveniles from public places at night, with curfew start times tiered by age from 9 p.m. up to 11 p.m. depending on the child's age and day of week.
It is unlawful for a juvenile under the age of 12 to be present in any public place or establishment within Hennepin County:
Any time between 9:00 p.m. on any Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday and 5:00 a.m. of the following day. Any time between 10:00 p.m. on any Friday or Saturday and 5:00 a.m. on the following day.
Section 3 A 2 A law enforcement officer may not issue a citation, detain a child or take a child into custody based on a violation of Section 3(A)(1) unless the law enforcement officer, after speaking with the child and considering the facts and surrounding circumstances:
Reasonably believes that the child has violated Section 3(A)(1); and Reasonably believes that none of the exceptions in Section 4(A) apply.
Section 3 B 1 It is unlawful for a juvenile, age 12 to 14, to be present in any public place or establishment within Hennepin County:
Any time between 10:00 p.m. on any Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday and 5:00 a.m. of the following day. Any time between 11:00 p.m. on any Friday or Saturday and 5:00 a.m. on the following day.
Section 3 B 2 A law enforcement officer may not issue a citation, detain a child or take a child into custody based on a violation of Section 3(B)(1) unless the law enforcement officer, after speaking with the child and considering the facts and surrounding circumstances:
Reasonably believes that the child has violated Section 3(B)(1); and
Full Breakdown
County Ordinance 16 makes it unlawful for a juvenile to be in any public place or establishment during curfew hours. Under-12s are covered from 9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 12-14 year-olds from 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 11 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 15-17 year-olds from 11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 12:01 a.m. Saturday-Sunday. All curfews run until 5 a.m. Parents who knowingly or negligently allow a violation, and proprietors who knowingly let a juvenile remain on the premises during curfew hours, are also liable.
Violations & Fines
Juvenile violations are prosecuted under Minn. Stat. § 260B.235; a violating parent, guardian, or proprietor faces a misdemeanor under Minn. Stat. § 609.03.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can police cite my child just for being out late?
Is there an exception for coming home from work or church?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hennepin County
Compare Hennepin County to another location·View the Minnesota curfew laws overview
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