Costa Mesa, CA Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Curfew hours
- 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
- Adopted
- Ordinance No. 98-12, May 1998
- Applies to
- anyone under 18
- Also liable
- parents, guardians, business owners/employees
- Defenses
- 10 listed, incl. work, emergencies, escort
- Penalty
- misdemeanor, separate offense per day
Summary
Costa Mesa's juvenile curfew runs from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. every night. Under sections 11-51 and 11-51.5, it's unlawful for anyone under 18 to remain in a public place or on business premises during those hours, and parents, guardians, owners and employees who knowingly allow it face the same misdemeanor exposure.
Curfew hours means the period from 10:00 p.m. any night until 6:00 a.m. the following morning. ... It is unlawful for: (a) Any minor to remain in any public place or on the premises of any establishment within the city during curfew hours, or (b) Any parent or guardian of a minor to knowingly permit, or by insufficient control, allow the minor to remain in any public place or on the premises of any establishment within the city during curfew hours, or (c) Any owner, operator or employee of an establishment to knowingly permit a minor to remain in or upon the premises of any establishment during curfew hours.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4894290; v9 updated 2025-11-18).
Full Breakdown
Adopted by Ordinance No. and reaches both public places, defined broadly to include streets, common areas of schools, hospitals, apartment buildings, office buildings, transit facilities and shops, and any privately-owned business open to the public. 5 creates three separate offenses: a minor who remains in a public place or business during curfew hours; a parent or guardian who knowingly permits, or through insufficient control allows, that; and an establishment's owner, operator or employee who knowingly permits a minor to remain on the premises during those hours.
military. A business also has a defense if it promptly notifies the police department that a minor on the premises refused to leave. Section 11-53 requires an officer to ask the apparent offender's age and reason for being out before taking any enforcement action, and bars a citation or detention unless the officer reasonably believes an offense occurred and no defense applies.
Violations & Fines
Section 11-54 makes every curfew violation a misdemeanor, with each day or part of a day the violation continues charged as a separate offense, carrying the general Code penalty of up to a $1,000 fine, up to six months in jail, or both under section 1-33. Minors themselves are handled through juvenile court law and procedure rather than adult criminal court.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does Costa Mesa's curfew for minors start?
Can my teen be out past curfew if we're driving home from a trip?
Can a business get in trouble for letting a minor stay past curfew?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Costa Mesa
California rules heatmap·Compare Costa Mesa to another location·View the California curfew laws overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Juvenile Curfew in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Orange County handle juvenile curfew.