Denver County, CO Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)

Denver's juvenile curfew ordinance, DRMC §38-171, prohibits minors under 18 years of age from being in any public place, business, or vehicle on a public street without a parent or legal guardian during curfew hours. Curfew runs 11 PM Sunday through Thursday until 5 AM the following morning, and midnight to 5 AM on Friday and Saturday nights. The ordinance lists statutory exceptions: the minor is accompanied by a parent or guardian; is on an errand at the direction of the parent; is traveling directly to or from employment with proof; is responding to an emergency; is attending a school, religious, or civic organization activity; is exercising First Amendment rights; or has parental permission for a specific reason. Parents/guardians are co-liable for knowingly permitting a curfew violation. Denver Police enforce primarily through community liaison rather than mass arrest; minors are typically taken home or released to a parent at a police precinct. The Denver School of the Arts and other late-ending events may be documented as exceptions. CO state law CRS §19-2-515 parallels juvenile handling.