Newark, OH Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)

Section 636.10, "Minor's Curfew," is a City of Newark ordinance in the General Offenses part of the Code of Ordinances, enacted by City Council as Ord. 80-88 and extended to minors under eighteen by Ord. 92-44. It sets three age tiers, each printed with its own hours. Under division (a)(1), no minor under fourteen may engage in any employment or be upon or in any street, park or public place in the City between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. Under (a)(2), no minor under sixteen may loiter or be upon any street, park or public place in the City between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. Under (a)(3), no minor under eighteen may loiter or be upon any street, park or public place between 12:00 midnight and 5:00 a.m. Each tier is lifted when the minor is accompanied by a parent, guardian or other person having the care, custody and/or control of the minor.

Division (b) puts a duty on the adult: no parent, guardian or other person having the care, custody and/or control of a minor under eighteen may knowingly or negligently permit the minor to violate division (a).

Division (c) lists exceptions. A minor may be upon a street, park or public place while directly en route to or from public or parochial school functions, service club dances, commercial dances, high school athletic games or events, religious services or functions, Boy or Girl Scout meetings and entertainments, Y.M.C.A. or Y.W.C.A. functions, or any City, State or Federal recreational activity. A minor may also be out while directly in the discharge of a bona fide and necessary errand or mission for the parent, legal guardian or other person having the care, custody and/or control of the minor. The exception applies during the hours stated in division (a).

Under division (d)(2), minors who violate the section are dealt with in accordance with Juvenile Court law and procedure, so the minor's case goes to the juvenile court rather than the adult misdemeanor docket.