Santa Maria, CA Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Curfew hours
- 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
- Who is covered
- Anyone under 18, non-emancipated
- Governing chapter
- SMMC Chapter 6-3
- Enacted
- Ordinance 2000-15, eff. 9/5/2000
- Enforcement
- Peace Officer, Welfare & Institutions Code
Summary
Santa Maria makes it unlawful for anyone under 18 to loiter on streets, sidewalks, parks, parking lots or other public places between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. under Municipal Code Chapter 6-3. Minors with a parent or guardian, running an authorized errand, coming from work, or exercising First Amendment rights are exempt.
It is unlawful for any minor to loiter upon the public street, avenues, highways, roads, alleys, sidewalks, parks, playgrounds, or other public grounds, public places, parking lots or vacant lots in the City during the hours between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. This prohibition is intended and shall be construed so as not to result in a preemption under State law, in particular Penal Code Section 647.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4818069; v9 updated 2026-04-07).
Full Breakdown
m. The ordinance defines 'loiter' by cross-reference to California Penal Code Section 647(h) and applies to anyone under 18, except a court-approved emancipated minor. 03 carves out four exceptions: a minor accompanied by or under direct supervision of a parent, guardian, or another adult with the parent's permission; a minor on an errand directed by a parent, guardian, or that adult; a minor going to or from a job, medical appointment, or parent-sanctioned activity; and a minor exercising First Amendment rights such as speech, religion, or assembly, including travel to or from the site of that activity.
5, routing the case through the juvenile justice system rather than adult criminal court. The chapter is distinct from Chapter 6-3A's daytime loitering rule, which targets truancy during school hours rather than nighttime presence. Ordinance 2000-15, effective September 5, 2000, created the chapter, and Ordinance 2010-03 amended the exceptions in 2010.
Violations & Fines
A minor caught loitering in a public place during curfew hours without a qualifying exception is processed under the Welfare and Institutions Code rather than fined outright; a Peace Officer can detain, counsel, or refer the minor under Sections 601, 625, 625.5, 626 or 626.5. The ordinance is written to avoid preempting Penal Code Section 647, so officers may also rely on state loitering law where it applies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my teenager be out after 11 p.m. in Santa Maria?
What happens if police stop a minor after curfew?
Is this the same as the daytime loitering rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Maria
California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Maria to another location·View the California curfew laws overview
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