Chatham County, GA Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Curfew age
- 16 and younger
- Weeknight hours
- 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
- Weekend hours
- Midnight to 6:00 a.m. (Fri/Sat)
- Exceptions
- 7, incl. parent, work, errand
- Parent penalty (1st offense)
- $100-$250 fine
- Parent penalty (2nd offense)
- $250-$500 fine
- Enforcing agency
- Chatham County Police Department
Summary
Chatham County bars unsupervised minors 16 and younger from public streets, parks, playgrounds and other public places in the unincorporated county between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. on weeknights, with the curfew stretching to midnight-to-6:00 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays under Sec. 11-110. Seven exceptions cover minors with a parent, running an errand, or coming home from work, school events or a religious activity.
It shall be unlawful for any minor 16 years of age or younger to loiter, wander, stroll or play in or upon the public streets, highways, roads, lanes, parks, playgrounds or other public grounds, public places, public buildings, places of amusement, eating places, vacant lots or any place in the unincorporated area of the County unsupervised by an adult having the lawful authority to be at such places, between the hours of 11:00 p.m. on any day and 6:00 a.m. of the following day; provided, however, that on Fridays and Saturdays the effective hours are between 12:00 midnight until 6:00 a.m. of the following day. ... It shall be unlawful for any parent or guardian to permit or allow by inefficient control a violation of this ordinance by a minor in his or her custody.
Full Breakdown
Sec. on Fridays and Saturdays. The ordinance carves out seven exceptions: a minor accompanied by a parent or lawful guardian; running an emergency errand for a parent or guardian; returning directly home from an educational, athletic, religious or civic event; returning directly home from lawful employment; traveling to or from an activity protected by First Amendment speech or religion rights; riding in a vehicle with parental consent, including interstate travel through the county; or standing on the property or sidewalk directly adjacent to the minor's own residence.
' A companion measure, the Parental Responsibility Ordinance at Sec. 11-111, requires parents to know the curfew and enforce it, backed by its own fines: $100 to $250 for a first conviction and $250 to $500 for a second, on top of whatever penalty a minor faces. Because Sec. 11-110 itself states no fine for the minor's violation, that conduct is punished under the code's general penalty, Sec. 2-108: up to $500, up to 30 days in jail, or up to 60 days of work-gang labor, or a combination.
Violations & Fines
A minor violating curfew is punished under the general penalty, Sec. 2-108: up to $500, up to 30 days in the county jail, or up to 60 days of work-gang labor. A parent who permits the violation 'by inefficient control' faces the Parental Responsibility Ordinance's own fines: $100 to $250 for a first conviction, $250 to $500 for a second, under Sec. 11-111.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Chatham County's curfew hours for minors?
Are there exceptions to the Chatham County juvenile curfew?
Can a parent be fined for a curfew violation in Chatham County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chatham County
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