Nashville, TN Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- School-year hours
- 11 p.m.–5 a.m. Sun–Thu, midnight Fri–Sat
- Summer hours
- Midnight–5 a.m. nightly, June–August
- Age covered
- 17 and under (unemancipated minors)
- Parent penalty
- Up to $50 fine per violation
- Enforcement
- Metro Nashville Police, Juvenile Court
Summary
Metro Nashville prohibits anyone 17 or younger from public places without a parent from 11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and midnight Friday-Saturday during the school year, midnight nightly in summer, until 5 a.m.
It shall be unlawful for any person seventeen years of age or less [under eighteen] to be or remain in or upon a public place, or a private place without consent of the property owner, leasee or a person of apparent authority acting on behalf of the leasee or owner, in Davidson County during the period ending at 5:00 a.m. and beginning: A. At 11:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 12:00 midnight Friday and Saturday between September 1st and May 31st, and B. At 12:00 midnight between June 1st and August 31st.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 53 | Charter: Republication 9).
Full Breakdown
Metropolitan Code § 11.28.210 makes it unlawful for anyone 17 or under to be in a public place, or a private place without the owner's consent, anywhere in Davidson County during curfew hours: 11 p.m.–5 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and midnight–5 a.m. Friday-Saturday from September through May, and midnight–5 a.m. every night in June, July and August. Nine listed exceptions cover juveniles accompanied by a parent, working, on an errand, at a supervised activity, or exercising First Amendment rights. Police can walk a first-time offender home, cite the juvenile, or refer the case to juvenile court, which can also fine a negligent parent up to $50 under § 11.28.230.
Violations & Fines
First offense: officer can return the juvenile home with a warning. Repeat or serious violations bring a juvenile citation, juvenile court referral, or a citation to the parent, who faces up to a $50 fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Nashville's curfew apply county-wide?
What happens if my teen breaks curfew?
Are there exceptions to the curfew?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Nashville
Compare Nashville to another location·View the Tennessee curfew laws overview
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