San Diego, CA Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Curfew hours
- 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
- Applies to
- anyone under 18
- Penalty
- misdemeanor (§58.0103)
- Defenses
- 10 listed, e.g. parent, work, emergency
- Enforcement
- officer must ask age/reason first
Summary
San Diego bars minors under 18 from public places and business premises between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Parents or guardians who knowingly allow it, or fail to control it, face the same violation.
Curfew Hours means the period from 10:00 p.m. any evening of the week, until 6:00 a.m. the following day. ... It is unlawful for any minor to be present in any public place or on the premises of any establishment within the City of San Diego during curfew hours.
Full Breakdown
SDMC §58.0102 makes it unlawful for any minor to be in a public place or on an establishment's premises during curfew hours, defined by §58.0101 as 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. daily. Parents or guardians who knowingly permit or, through insufficient control, allow this are equally liable. Ten defenses apply, including being with a parent/guardian or responsible adult, on a direct errand, working, in interstate travel, on the minor's own sidewalk, or exercising First Amendment rights. Officers must ask age and reason before citing.
Violations & Fines
Violating §58.0102 is a misdemeanor under §58.0103; juveniles are handled through juvenile court law and procedure rather than standard criminal sentencing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does San Diego's curfew start?
Can parents be cited too?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Diego
California rules heatmap·Compare San Diego to another location·View the California curfew laws overview
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Juvenile Curfew in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Diego County handle juvenile curfew.