Pacifica, CA Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Curfew hours
- 11:00 p.m. to sunrise
- Governing section
- Pacifica Municipal Code § 5-11.01
- Applies to
- Persons under 18 without a parent or guardian
- Exception
- Legitimate business, trade, or occupation travel
- Parent liability
- Section 5-11.02 makes permitting a violation unlawful
- Business duty
- Bars and cafes must not allow minors, Section 5-11.05
- Arrest processing
- Minor taken to San Mateo County Juvenile Home
Summary
In the City of Pacifica, anyone under 18 may not loiter on public streets, in parks, or in any public place between 11:00 p.m. and sunrise without a parent or legal guardian. Pacifica Municipal Code Section 5-11.01 exempts minors traveling to or from legitimate work, business, or occupation activity. Parents who knowingly let a minor break curfew face a separate violation of their own.
It shall be unlawful for any minor person under the age of eighteen (18) years to loiter upon or about the public streets, avenues, alleys, parks, squares, or any public places within the City between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and the time of sunrise of the following morning when not accompanied by his parent or legal guardian having the care and custody of such minor person, except where the presence of the minor person in such place is connected with and required by some legitimate business, trade, profession, or occupation in which he is engaged.
Full Breakdown
and sunrise unless accompanied by a parent or guardian with legal care and custody, or unless the minor's presence is connected with and required by legitimate business, trade, profession, or occupation. The chapter then spreads responsibility beyond the minor. 02 makes it unlawful for a parent, guardian, or other person with legal custody to allow or permit the minor to violate the curfew. 04 creates a presumption that a parent or guardian aided and abetted the violation once the minor is found violating it. and sunrise absent a parent or guardian.
06, including the minor's name, age, and last known address. 07 requires the arresting officer to take the minor to the San Mateo County Juvenile Home and explain the reason for the arrest.
Violations & Fines
Chapter 11 spreads liability across the minor, the parent or guardian, and any adult who aids the violation. Section 5-11.02 makes it unlawful for a parent or guardian to allow the curfew to be broken, and Section 5-11.04 presumes the parent aided and abetted once a minor is caught violating it. Arrested minors go to the San Mateo County Juvenile Home under Section 5-11.07.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does Pacifica's curfew for minors start?
Are there exceptions to the Pacifica juvenile curfew?
Can a parent get in trouble for a curfew violation?
Do bars and restaurants have curfew obligations too?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pacifica
California rules heatmap·Compare Pacifica to another location·View the California curfew laws overview
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Juvenile Curfew in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Mateo County handle juvenile curfew.