Jefferson Parish, LA Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Weeknight curfew
- 11:00 p.m.-5:00 a.m., Mon-Thu
- Weekend curfew
- 12:00 midnight-5:00 a.m., Fri-Sun
- Applies to
- Minors under age 17
- Exceptions
- Accompanied by adult, or emergency errand
- Parent penalty
- Up to $1,000 / 6 months (Sec. 1-10)
- Business penalty
- Fine plus possible license revocation
Summary
Jefferson Parish bars minors under 17 from loitering, wandering or playing in public places between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. on weeknights and midnight to 5 a.m. on weekends. Parents who knowingly let a minor break curfew face the Code's standard fine, and businesses that let curfew violators linger risk losing their license.
(a)It shall be unlawful for any minor under the age of seventeen (17) years to loiter, idle, wander, stroll, or play in or upon the public streets, highways, roads, alleys, parks, playgrounds, wharves, docks, or other public grounds, public places and public buildings, places of amusement and entertainment, vacant lots or other unsupervised places at any time between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. on Monday through Thursday, and between 12:00 midnight to 5:00 a.m. on Friday through Sunday, in the parish.(b)The provisions of this section do not apply to a minor accompanied by his or her parent, guardian, or other adult person having the care and custody of the minor, or when the minor is upon an emergency errand or legitimate purpose directed by his or her parent, guardian or other adult person having the care and custody of the minor.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 20 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
Sec. m. m. Friday through Sunday. Two exceptions apply: a minor accompanied by a parent, guardian or other adult with care and custody, or a minor out on an emergency errand or legitimate purpose directed by that adult. Sec. 20-168 places a mirror-image duty on the parent, guardian or other adult with custody, making it unlawful for them to knowingly permit the minor to violate the same hours, subject to the same two exceptions. Sec. 20-169 extends the curfew to businesses: anyone operating or in charge of a place of amusement, entertainment or refreshment may not let a minor under 17 remain there during the restricted hours, again unless the minor is accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Sec. 20-170 lets the parish council designate school nights or entertainment nights, on request from parochial or public schools or from social and fraternal organizations, during which the curfew doesn't apply to students or minors lawfully traveling to or from the designated activity. Sec. 20-171 splits enforcement three ways: a minor who violates curfew is handled through Juvenile Court Law and Procedure rather than fined directly; a parent or guardian found guilty faces the Code's general penalty; and a business operator in the unincorporated parish found guilty faces that same penalty plus possible license revocation at the court's discretion.
Violations & Fines
A minor caught violating curfew is processed under the Louisiana Children's Code rather than fined under the parish Code. A parent or guardian convicted under Sec. 20-168 is subject to the general penalty in Sec. 1-10: up to a $1,000 fine, up to six months imprisonment, or both. A business operator convicted under Sec. 20-169 faces that same penalty plus discretionary revocation of its parish license.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does the Jefferson Parish youth curfew start?
Can my 16-year-old be out past curfew if I'm with them?
What happens to a business that lets teenagers stay past curfew?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Jefferson Parish
Compare Jefferson Parish to another location·View the Louisiana curfew laws overview
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