Franklin, TN Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Weeknight curfew
- 11 p.m.–5 a.m., Sun–Thu
- Weekend curfew
- Midnight–5 a.m., Fri–Sat
- Applies to
- Anyone under 18
- First offense
- Written warning only
- Parent liability
- Fine on repeat violations
Summary
Franklin bans minors under 18 from public places between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. on school nights, and midnight to 5 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, under the city's Juvenile Curfew Ordinance.
It shall be unlawful for any minor under 18 years of age to remain in or upon any public place within the city during period ending at 5:00 A.M. and beginning at 11:00 P.M., Sunday through Thursday, and during a period ending at 5:00 A.M. and beginning at 12:00 midnight, Friday and Saturday.
It shall further be unlawful for a parent of a minor to knowingly permit or by inefficient or insufficient control allow such minor to be or remain in any public place within the city under circumstances not constituting an exception to, or otherwise beyond the scope of, curfew chapter. The term "knowingly" includes knowledge which a parent should reasonably be expected to have concerning the whereabouts of a minor in that parent's legal custody. It is intended to continue to keep neglectful or careless parents up to a reasonable community standard of parental responsibility through an objective test. It shall, a fortiori, be no defense that a parent was completely indifferent to the activities or conduct or whereabouts of such minor child.
(1976 Code, § 12-603)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 30 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Franklin Municipal Code § 20-103 makes it unlawful for anyone under 18 to remain in a public place during curfew hours, 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, and midnight to 5:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and makes it unlawful for a parent to knowingly permit it. Section 20-104 exempts minors accompanied by a parent or authorized adult, coming home from work or an event within 45 minutes, on an emergency, or exercising First Amendment rights. Officers issue a written warning on a first encounter under § 20-105; a second violation triggers certified-mail notice to the parent, and a parent's subsequent violation is treated as a chargeable offense.
Violations & Fines
A first violation draws a written warning and a return-home order; repeat violations can bring the minor to the police department, and a parent's second offense is a fined misdemeanor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does Franklin's curfew start on weekends?
Can a minor be out working past curfew in Franklin?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Franklin
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