Hendersonville, TN Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)

Hendersonville's juvenile curfew sits in Title 11, Chapter 8, 'Miscellaneous,' at § 11-804, adopted by Ordinance 1970-33 in March 1970 and never separately amended in the current code. The entire operative text reads: 'It shall be unlawful for any minor, under the age of eighteen (18) years, to be abroad at night after 12:00 a.m. unless upon a legitimate errand for, or accompanied by, a parent, guardian, or other adult person having lawful custody of such minor.' The rule applies to every minor under eighteen, with no separate, earlier cutoff for younger children, and it turns entirely on being 'abroad,' away from home, after midnight.

Only two things excuse a minor from the ordinance: running a 'legitimate errand for' a parent, guardian, or lawful custodian, or being physically accompanied by one of those adults. The code doesn't define 'legitimate errand,' doesn't list exempt destinations such as work, school events, or emergencies, and doesn't set a separate weekend or summer curfew, so enforcement discretion rests with the officer on the street and, on appeal, the City Judge.

The chapter carries no standalone penalty clause for § 11-804, so a curfew violation is charged like any other Title 11 offense: a fine capped at $50 under § 3-302(1)(a), plus the $175 in court costs the City Judge must assess in every case heard under § 3-302(2)(a). The ordinance does not create a separate offense or fine against the parent or guardian; the penalty runs against the minor who is cited.