Moreno Valley, CA Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Curfew hours
- 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. daily
- Who is liable
- Minor, parent/guardian, and business owner
- First offense
- Infraction under Sec. 1.01.230 fine schedule
- Adult 3rd+ offense
- Misdemeanor, up to $1,000 or 6 months
- Statutory exceptions
- 9 defenses incl. work, emergency, First Amendment
- Officer duty before citing
- Must ask age and reason first
Summary
Moreno Valley bars minors from public places and business premises between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. under Municipal Code Section 11.04.020. Parents who knowingly allow it and business owners who knowingly permit it are also liable, subject to nine statutory exceptions.
"Curfew hours" means the period from ten p.m. any night of the week until five a.m. the following day.
A. It is unlawful for any minor to remain in any public place or on the premises of any establishment within the city during curfew hours.
B. It is unlawful for any parent or guardian of a minor to knowingly permit, or by insufficient control to allow, the minor to remain in any public place or on the premises of an establishment within the city during curfew hours except as specifically provided in Section 11.04.030 of this chapter.
C. It is unlawful for any owner, operator or employee of an establishment to knowingly permit or allow a minor to remain in or upon the premises of an establishment during curfew hours except in circumstances provided in Section 11.04.030 of this chapter.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4887234; v10 updated 2026-04-07).
Full Breakdown
the following day. 020 makes it unlawful for a minor to remain in any public place or on an establishment's premises during those hours, and separately makes a parent or guardian liable for knowingly permitting or, through insufficient control, allowing it, and makes an establishment's owner, operator or employee liable for knowingly permitting a minor to stay on the premises during curfew. 030 lists nine defenses: being accompanied by a parent, guardian or responsible adult; running an errand for one; traveling in a vehicle with permission and without detour; going to or from employment; responding to an emergency; attending or returning from a city-, school- or civic-sponsored activity; exercising First Amendment rights; being an emancipated minor; or attending licensed commercial entertainment with adult permission.
050 requires a law enforcement officer to first ask the apparent offender's age and reason for being out before citing or arresting, and bars enforcement unless the officer reasonably believes an offense occurred with no applicable defense. Each violation is a separate offense, and an officer may detain a minor until a parent, guardian or responsible adult takes custody.
Violations & Fines
A first violation of Section 11.04.020 is an infraction under the fine schedule in Section 1.01.230, with minors handled under state juvenile procedures. An adult convicted of a third or subsequent offense may instead face a misdemeanor: a fine of up to $1,000, up to six months in jail, or both. When a peace officer issues a minor a notice to appear under Welfare and Institutions Code Section 256, the charge is treated as an infraction unless a Section 601 or 602 petition is filed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does Moreno Valley's juvenile curfew start and end?
Can my teenager be out after 10 p.m. for a job?
Can a business get in trouble for letting a minor stay past curfew?
What can happen if my child is cited for a curfew violation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Moreno Valley
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