Texas City, TX Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)

The Texas City curfew sits in §§ 130.25 through 130.29 of the Texas City Code of Ordinances and was enacted by the City Commission for the city in Galveston County. Curfew hours are two windows: 9:00 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. on any school day, and 11:30 p.m. on any Sunday through Saturday until 5:00 a.m. of the following day. A minor is any person under 17 years of age, unless disabilities have been removed by law. Section 130.26(A) makes it unlawful for a minor to knowingly remain, walk, run or stand, or operate or ride in any motor vehicle or on any bicycle, in or upon any public place or on the premises of any establishment within the city during those hours.

Public place includes streets, highways and the common areas of schools, hospitals, apartment houses, office buildings, restaurants, theaters, shops and shopping centers. Section 130.26(B) reaches a parent or guardian who knowingly permits a minor, or by insufficient control allows one, to remain in a public place or establishment during curfew hours. The code defines parent to include a person at least 21 years of age authorized by the parent or guardian to have the care and custody of the minor. Section 130.26(C) reaches the owner, operator or any employee of an establishment who knowingly allows a minor to remain on the premises.

The Texas City Police Department enforces the curfew. Under § 130.28, before any enforcement action an officer must ask the apparent offender's age and reason for being in the public place, and cannot issue a citation or make an arrest unless the officer reasonably believes an offense has occurred and no defense under § 130.27 is present. Section 130.29 requires the City Commission, before the third anniversary of adoption and every third year after, to review the ordinance's effects, hold a public hearing on the need to continue it, and abolish, continue or modify it.

An editor's note records that Ord. 10-13, adopted 5-5-2010, renewed and continued the curfew, and the subchapter was last amended by Ord. 20-01, passed 1-15-2020.