Hanford, CA Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)

Chapter 9.08 sets curfew hours as 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. every night of the week (§ 9.08.010). During that window it is unlawful for any minor, defined as anyone under 18, to be present in a public place (streets, sidewalks, parking lots, common areas of schools, hospitals, apartment houses, office buildings and transport facilities) or on the premises of any privately owned establishment open to the public (§ 9.08.020(A)). It is separately unlawful for a parent or guardian to knowingly permit a minor's presence, or to allow it through "insufficient control," defined as failing to monitor, supervise, regulate, command, direct or exercise authority over the minor (§§ 9.08.010, 9.08.020(B)).

Subsection C lists nine exceptions: the minor is accompanied by a parent, guardian or an authorized responsible adult; running an errand at a parent's or guardian's direction with no unrelated detour; traveling in a vehicle on an interstate or long-distance intrastate trip (over 100 miles within California); going to, from, or engaged in employment; responding to an emergency; standing on the sidewalk abutting the minor's own residence; attending or traveling to/from an official school, religious, or city-, civic- or religious-sponsored recreational activity supervised by adults; exercising First Amendment rights while accompanied by a parent, guardian or responsible adult; or being an emancipated minor under California law.

Before taking enforcement action, a police officer must first attempt to ascertain the minor's age and the reason for being in the public place or establishment (§ 9.08.020(D)). The chapter traces to Ord. 98-07 (1998), codifying prior code § 5-11.01/.02.