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Kansas City, MO Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Summer curfew, under 16
10 p.m.–6 a.m.
Summer curfew, 16–17
11 p.m.–6 a.m.
Rest-of-year curfew, under 18
11 p.m. Sun–Thu, midnight Fri–Sat
Parent/guardian penalty
Up to $500 fine
Minor's own penalty
Detention only, no prosecution

Summary

Kansas City bars anyone under 18 from public streets and places overnight, with stricter summer hours for under-16s and later hours the rest of the year, enforced with parent fines and minor detention.

From and including 12:01 a.m. on the Friday preceding Memorial Day each year through 12:00 midnight of the last Sunday of September of each year, it is unlawful for any person under 16 years of age to loiter, wander, stroll or play in or upon the public streets, highways, roads, sidewalks, alleys, parks, playgrounds or other public grounds, public places, public buildings, places of amusement, eating places, vacant lots or any place unsupervised by an adult having the lawful authority to be at such places, between the hours of 10:00 p.m. on any day and 6:00 a.m. of the following day

Source: KC Code Chapter 50 — OffensesView official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 139 | Zoning and Development Code: Supplement 38).

Full Breakdown

From the Friday before Memorial Day through the last Sunday of September, curfew begins at 10 p.m. for anyone under 16 and 11 p.m. for 16- and 17-year-olds, both running until 6 a.m. The rest of the year, everyone under 18 must be off public streets, parks, and other public places by 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and by midnight Friday and Saturday, until 6 a.m. Exceptions cover minors with a parent or guardian, on an emergency errand, coming home from school, work, or a religious or free-speech activity, or passing through the city. Parents who knowingly let a minor violate curfew face separate penalties.

Violations & Fines

Minors caught violating curfew are not prosecuted but can be detained by police until a parent picks them up or 6 a.m., whichever comes first. Parents or guardians who knowingly allow the violation face a fine up to $500, with family counseling probation as an alternative.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time is the teen curfew in Kansas City during summer?
From the Friday before Memorial Day through the last Sunday of September, anyone under 16 must be off public streets by 10 p.m., and 16- and 17-year-olds by 11 p.m., both until 6 a.m.
Can parents be fined for a curfew violation?
Yes. A parent or guardian who knowingly lets a minor violate curfew can be fined up to $500, though a court may substitute family counseling probation for the fine.
Is the curfew earlier in entertainment districts like the Plaza?
Yes. Areas including the Country Club Plaza, 18th & Vine, and Westport set a 9 p.m. summer curfew for under-18s under a separate, stricter section.

Sources & Official References

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