Houston, TX Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Old curfew hours
- 11pm-6am weeknights, midnight-6am weekends
- Covered minors
- under 17 years old
- Codified fine
- up to $50 per violation
- Preemption
- TX HB 1819 barred enforcement 9-1-2023
- Current status
- on the books, not enforced
Summary
Houston's Chapter 28 curfew for minors under 18 remains in the Code of Ordinances, but Texas House Bill 1819 barred cities from enforcing juvenile curfews starting September 1, 2023, so Houston police no longer cite minors under Sections 28-171 through 28-176.
(a)It shall be unlawful for any minor to knowingly remain, walk, run, stand, drive or ride about, in or upon any public place in the city during curfew hours.(b)It shall be unlawful for the parent or guardian having legal custody of a minor to knowingly allow or permit the minor to be in violation of the curfew imposed in section 28-172(a) of this Code.
Full Breakdown
Houston's Article V juvenile curfew (Sec. 28-171 through 28-176) makes it unlawful for a minor under 17 to be in a public place between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. on school nights, or midnight to 6:00 a.m. on weekends, with a parent-liability clause and defenses for work, school, and emergencies. City council last renewed it under Ord. No. 2019-717 in September 2019. Texas House Bill 1819, effective September 1, 2023, amended Local Government Code Chapter 370 to bar any political subdivision from adopting or enforcing a curfew on persons under 18, so HPD confirms it no longer issues curfew citations even though the text remains codified.
Violations & Fines
Citations would require a Municipal Court appearance, but HPD reports it no longer enforces the curfew given state preemption; the codified text still lists a fine up to $50 per violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Houston police still cite minors under the curfew?
What did the old Houston curfew require?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Houston
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Houston to another location·View the Texas curfew laws overview
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Juvenile Curfew in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Harris County handle juvenile curfew.