Clayton County, GA Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)

Sec. 62-11.3 defines "child" as any person 17 years of age or under, and defines "curfew hours" as 11:00 p.m. on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday until 6:00 a.m. the following day, and midnight on Friday or Saturday until 6:00 a.m. the following day. Sec. 62-11.4 makes it unlawful for a child to loiter, wander, stroll, or play, unsupervised by an adult, parent, or guardian, in any public place, street, park, playground, establishment, or vacant lot in unincorporated Clayton County during those hours, and separately makes it unlawful for a parent, guardian, or custodian to knowingly, or through insufficient control, allow that to happen, and for any establishment's owner, operator, or employee to knowingly allow a child on the premises during curfew.

Sec. 62-11.5 lists seven exceptions: a child accompanied by a parent or guardian; on an emergency errand or seeking medical treatment; returning directly home from a school activity, entertainment, recreation, or dance; returning directly home from lawful employment; traveling to or from a First Amendment activity; riding in a vehicle with parental consent; or an emancipated minor. Before citing anyone, Sec. 62-11.7 requires an officer to first ask the person's age and reason for being out, and bars a citation or arrest unless the officer reasonably believes an offense occurred and no exception applies.

Sec. 62-11.6 sets the penalty for an adult, parent, guardian, or establishment operator or employee at a fine of up to $1,000.00, imprisonment in the county jail for up to six months, or both, with each violation a separate offense; a child's case is instead adjudicated under O.C.G.A. § 15-11-1 et seq.