Norfolk, VA Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Curfew hours
- 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
- Covered minors
- Anyone under 18
- Parent penalty
- Class 4 misdemeanor
- Minor under 16
- Officer must seek a petition
- Minor 16 or older
- Petition or summons, officer's choice
- Adopted
- Ord. No. 37,126, Feb. 2, 1993
- Amended
- Ord. No. 41,471, June 29, 2004
Summary
Norfolk bars anyone under 18 from streets, parks, alleys, and parked or moving vehicles in public between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. unless an adult with custody of the minor is present. City Code § 29-3 directs officers to investigate and release the minor to a parent, and lets a parent who knowingly allows the violation be charged with a Class 4 misdemeanor.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any minor under the age of eighteen (18) to be present on any street, road, alley, avenue, park or other public place in the city, or in any vehicle operating or parked thereon, between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., unless accompanied by the parent, guardian or other adult person having the care, custody or control of such minor. ... (e) Any person violating any provision of subsection (b) of this section shall be guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 166).
Full Breakdown
Section 29-3 of the Norfolk Code of Ordinances makes it unlawful for any minor under 18 to be present on any street, road, alley, avenue, park, or other public place in the city, or in any vehicle operating or parked there, between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., unless accompanied by a parent, guardian, or other adult with care, custody, or control of the minor. The same section separately bars a parent, guardian, or other custodial adult from permitting, allowing, or encouraging a minor to be out during curfew hours in violation of subsection (a).
When an officer discovers a minor apparently violating curfew, the officer must investigate before acting. If the minor is under 16, the officer must seek a petition rather than issue a summons directly; for minors 16 or older, the officer may choose either a petition or a summons. Regardless of whether the minor is charged, the officer must release the minor to a parent, guardian, or other adult with custody.
Four exceptions apply: emergency errands necessary to protect life, limb, or property; travel directly to or from lawful employment; attendance at a specified performance, religious service, or a First Amendment-protected assembly if the minor carries written parental permission with a name, address, and phone number and returns straight home afterward; and interstate travel through, into, or out of the city. A minor who has been legally emancipated under Va. Code § 16.1-333 is exempt entirely.
The ordinance was adopted by Ord. No. 37,126 on February 2, 1993, and amended by Ord. No. 41,471 on June 29, 2004.
Violations & Fines
A parent, guardian, or custodial adult who knowingly lets a minor break curfew is guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor. The minor is not prosecuted the same way: a violation makes the minor a 'child in need of services' under Va. Code Title 16.1-228, subjecting the minor and the responsible adult to disposition under Va. Code § 16.1-278.4, which can include court-ordered supervision, counseling, or other services from the juvenile court.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does Norfolk's juvenile curfew start?
Can police arrest a minor for breaking curfew?
What happens to parents if their child breaks curfew?
Are there exceptions to the Norfolk curfew?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Norfolk
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