Fairfield, CA Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)

Fairfield's daytime curfew operates as a truancy-enforcement adjunct. Under Chapter 12, the daytime curfew hours are 8:30 AM through 1:30 PM on those days when the minor's school is in session, with the exception of a school-approved lunch hour. The ordinance applies to any minor subject to compulsory education under California Education Code §48200 et seq. or compulsory continuation education under §48400 et seq. who is not in possession of a valid school-issued off-campus permit, who is not receiving instruction from a qualified tutor under Education Code §48224, and who is not otherwise exempt from compulsory school attendance. Such a minor present in or upon any public place during daytime curfew hours commits an infraction. Common exemptions include: minors accompanied by a parent or guardian, minors on a medically necessary errand, minors on an emergency errand, minors traveling to or from an authorized educational or work activity, minors on a sidewalk in front of the residence where they live, and minors at a school-sponsored or other adult-supervised activity. Enforcement is primarily through the Fairfield Police Department and the School Resource Officer program coordinated with Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District. Cited minors are typically transported to the school or to a designated diversion location for parent contact. Fines for infractions follow the general California schedule for juvenile infractions (typically $100-$250 with possible community service alternatives), and repeat citations can escalate to truancy proceedings under Welfare & Institutions Code §601. California Welfare & Institutions Code §625 allows a peace officer to take a minor into temporary custody who is in violation of a curfew ordinance. Fairfield's curfew has faced periodic First Amendment and equal protection scrutiny common to all daytime curfew laws (see, e.g., Nunez v. City of San Diego, 114 F.3d 935 (9th Cir. 1997)), with courts generally upholding narrowly drawn daytime curfews tied to compulsory education. The ordinance does not currently include a citywide nighttime curfew for all minors — many California cities have adopted such ordinances, but Fairfield's framework focuses on the daytime school-hours component.