Nicholasville, KY Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)

Section 12-6 of the Nicholasville Code of Ordinances defines a minor as any person under the age of 18. It makes it unlawful for a minor to be or remain in or upon any public assembly, building, place, street or highway, or in any motor vehicle, within the city at night during the printed periods. Remain means to stay behind, to tarry, or to stay unnecessarily in those places.

From September 1 to May 31 the periods are 1:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. on Saturday and on Sunday, plus 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. on the Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights running into the next morning. From June 1 to August 31 the Saturday and Sunday periods stay at 1:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m., and the Sunday through Thursday night periods start at 12:00 a.m. instead of 11:00 p.m.

Subsection (b)(3) makes it unlawful for a parent or guardian with legal custody to allow a minor to be or remain in those places outside the exceptions during the periods in subsection (b)(1). Allow means permit or neglect to prevent, and it requires actual or constructive knowledge: the parent must actually know, or the circumstances must be such that a reasonably prudent parent or guardian should have known.

Subsection (c) excepts a minor who is accompanied by a parent or guardian, or by an adult authorized by a parent or guardian. It also excepts First Amendment activity backed by a written notice signed by the minor and countersigned by a parent, and reasonable necessity after the parent has told the Police Department the facts. Further exceptions cover a minor on the sidewalk of the home or of a next-door neighbor who has not objected, a direct return home within a reasonable time after a school, religious or voluntary association activity or lawful work, and events authorized by city commission regulation, limited to one hour past the end of the activity.

Under subsection (d), a police officer is authorized to stop and question a minor, ask for the minor's name and age and the parent's name and address, and either take the minor home or direct the minor to go home immediately.