Roswell, GA Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Curfew hours
- 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
- Applies to
- anyone under 18 (defined as youth)
- Key exception
- accompanied by parent or guardian
- Key exception
- emancipated minors under O.C.G.A. § 19-7-1
Summary
Roswell bars anyone under 18 from loitering in any public place between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., with exceptions for emancipated minors and those with a parent or guardian.
It is unlawful for a minor as defined herein, to loiter in any public place within the city between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. of the following day, subject to the definitions and exceptions contained in this section.(b)Definitions. For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall be construed as follows: Emergency means an unforeseen combination of circumstances that calls for immediate action. The term includes, but is not limited to, a fire, a natural disaster, an automobile accident, or any situation requiring immediate action to prevent serious bodily injury or loss of life.
Loiter means to stand idly about or linger aimlessly.
Public place means any place to which the public or a substantial group of the public has access and includes, but is not limited to, streets, sidewalks, driveways, highways, private residences left open to the public without the presence of adult supervisors and the common areas of schools, hospitals, apartments, malls, parking lots, office buildings, playgrounds, vacant lots and transportation facilities.
Youth means any person under the age of eighteen (18) and is synonymous with the terms "juvenile" or "minor" for the purposes of this chapter.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 17 | Unified Development Code: Supplement 5).
Full Breakdown
Section 8.5.9 of the Roswell Code of Ordinances defines 'youth' as any person under 18 and makes it unlawful for a minor to loiter, stand idly or linger aimlessly, in any public place within the City of Roswell between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. the following day. Public place is defined broadly to include streets, sidewalks, driveways, private residences left open to the public without adult supervision, and common areas of schools, hospitals, malls, and parking lots. The section exempts minors emancipated under O.C.G.A. § 19-7-1, minors accompanied by a parent or guardian, those on a specific parent-directed errand, those going to or from work or a school function with parental knowledge, and those responding to an emergency.
Violations & Fines
The section states no separate fine; Roswell police enforce the curfew directly, and violations are handled as misdemeanor offenses under the city's general Chapter 8 public-order framework.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Roswell's curfew hours for minors?
Can a minor be out with a parent after curfew?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Roswell
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Juvenile Curfew in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Fulton County handle juvenile curfew.