Roanoke, VA Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Ages 14-16 curfew, Sun-Thu
- 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
- Ages 14-16 curfew, Fri-Sat
- Midnight to 5:00 a.m.
- Ages 13 and under, Sun-Thu
- 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
- Ages 13 and under, Fri-Sat
- 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
- Handled under
- Va. Code §§ 16.1-278.4, 16.1-278.5
Summary
Roanoke bars unsupervised minors 14 to 16 from public streets, parks, and vacant lots between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and midnight to 5 a.m. on weekends, with an earlier 10 p.m. cutoff on school nights for kids 13 and under.
It shall be unlawful for any person between the ages of fourteen (14) to sixteen (16) to loiter, idle, wander, stroll or play in or upon any public street, highway, alley, sidewalk, park, playground, other public place or upon any vacant lot or other place unsupervised by an adult having lawful authority to be at such place between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and between the hours of midnight and 5:00 a.m. on Friday or Saturday.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 94 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
City Code Sec. m. on Friday or Saturday. m. on Friday and Saturday. Five exceptions apply: being accompanied by a parent, guardian, or an adult temporarily entrusted with the minor; being on an emergency errand or legitimate business directed by a parent or guardian; attending or traveling directly to or from a city-sponsored, school, or church activity with parental permission; being at or traveling directly to or from lawful employment with parental permission; and traveling through the city in a vehicle with parental permission. When an officer discovers or is alerted that a minor may be violating the curfew, Sec.
21-5(b) requires an immediate investigation, including questioning the minor when feasible, and if the officer is satisfied a violation occurred, a report goes to the judge of the juvenile and domestic relations court. 5, the state's juvenile disposition statutes, rather than the general adult misdemeanor penalty scheme used elsewhere in Chapter 21.
Violations & Fines
A curfew violation by a minor is not processed as a standard city misdemeanor; instead, per Sec. 21-5(c) it is referred to the juvenile and domestic relations court and disposed of under Virginia Code §§ 16.1-278.4 and 16.1-278.5, the state's juvenile delinquency disposition provisions, after an officer's investigation and report.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is curfew for teenagers in Roanoke?
Is Roanoke's curfew stricter for younger children?
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Roanoke
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