Novato, CA Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)

Section 14-7.2 of the Novato Municipal Code makes it unlawful for any minor to remain in or upon any public street, highway, road, alley, park, playground or other public place during curfew hours. For minors under 16 the hours are 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., or 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. when the following day is not a school day on the Novato Unified School District calendar. For minors 16 and over and under 18 the hours are 11:30 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., or 12:30 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. when the following day is not a school day. Section 14-7.5 defines public place as any publicly-owned parcel of real property or improvement on it, and remain as to linger or stay.

The curfew does not apply when the minor is accompanied by a parent, guardian or other adult authorized to have care and custody; attending or traveling directly to or home from a supervised dance, school, religious, sports, cultural, amusement, employment or recreational activity; traveling directly to or from an open eating establishment after such an event; in a public place within 100 feet of the minor's residence; responding to an emergency; emancipated under State law; on an errand at the direction of a parent or guardian without detour or stop; in a motor vehicle involved in interstate travel; or exercising First Amendment rights. The code defines an emergency as a sudden, unexpected occurrence posing clear and imminent danger, such as a fire, natural disaster or automobile accident.

Parents are covered too. Under § 14-7.4 it is unlawful for a parent, guardian or authorized adult to allow a minor to violate the curfew. The council's stated purpose in § 14-7.1 is to protect the youth of the City of Novato and potential victims of juvenile crime by decreasing the opportunity for nocturnal criminal activity, citing persons under 18 as susceptible to unlawful activity and to becoming victims.