Joliet, IL Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- City Code Sec. 21-18
- Ages 16-17 curfew
- 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
- Age 15 and under curfew
- 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
- Fine range
- $150.00 to $750.00 plus costs
- Parent pickup window
- 1 hour before cost liability
- Officer duty
- Must ask age and reason first
Summary
Joliet Code Sec. 21-18 sets a curfew of 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. for minors 15 and under and 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. for 16- and 17-year-olds, unless accompanied by a parent or approved adult. Officers must ask the minor's age and reason before citing, and parents can be held liable for fines and city costs.
(a) No person who is sixteen (16) or seventeen (17) years of age shall be present at or upon any public assembly, building, place, street, or highway between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. the following day unless accompanied and supervised by a parent, legal guardian, or other responsible companion at least eighteen (18) years of age and who is approved by a parent or legal guardian. (b) No person who is fifteen (15) years of age or younger shall be present at or upon any public assembly, building, place, street, or highway between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. the following day unless accompanied and supervised by a parent, legal guardian, or other responsible companion at least eighteen (18) years of age and who is approved by a parent or legal guardian. ... (h) Before taking any enforcement action under this section, a police officer shall ask the apparent offender's age and reason for being in the public place. The officer shall not issue a citation or make an arrest under this section unless the officer reasonably believes that an offense has occurred and that, based on any response and other circumstances, no defense in subsection (c) is present.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 200).
Full Breakdown
unless accompanied and supervised by a parent, legal guardian, or an approved responsible companion at least 18. , for anyone 15 or younger. Subsection (c) lists exceptions: minors traveling to or from work, an official school function, a religious activity, a not-for-profit community event, military leave with ID, or activity protected by the First Amendment or Article 1, Sections 3 through 5 of the Illinois Constitution. Subsection (d) makes it unlawful for a parent or guardian to knowingly permit a minor in their custody to violate curfew, and subsection (f) makes that parent or guardian liable for any unpaid fine or restitution imposed on the minor.
Subsection (g) adds a cost-recovery rule: if a parent does not pick up a detained minor within one hour of notice, the parent owes the city for the hourly wage and benefits cost of the employee assigned to stay with the child. Subsection (h) is a procedural safeguard requiring an officer to ask the apparent offender's age and reason for being out before taking enforcement action, and bars a citation or arrest unless the officer reasonably believes an offense occurred and no subsection (c) defense applies. Violations run through the chapter's general Sec. 21-9 penalty tied to Sec. 1-8.
Violations & Fines
A curfew violation is punishable under Sec. 21-18(e) by the penalties in Sec. 1-8, meaning a fine of $150.00 to $750.00 plus costs for the minor's offense, with the parent or guardian liable under subsection (f) for any unpaid fine or restitution. Under subsection (g), a parent who fails to retrieve a detained minor within one hour also owes the city for the staff time spent supervising the child.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is curfew for teenagers in Joliet?
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Can parents be fined for a child's curfew violation in Joliet?
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Joliet
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