Fresno County, CA Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Curfew hours
- 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. daily
- Covered ages
- Under 18 years old
- Parent liability
- Knowingly permitting a violation is unlawful
- Listed defenses
- 9 exceptions including work, errands, emergencies
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor under § 10.40.030
Summary
Minors in unincorporated Fresno County face a nightly curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. under Chapter 10.40. It is unlawful for anyone under 18 to be in a public place or business establishment during those hours, and parents or guardians who knowingly allow it are also liable.
"Curfew hours" means the period from ten p.m. any evening of the week, until five 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 county of Fresno during curfew hours. It is unlawful for any parent or guardian of a minor knowingly to permit, or by insufficient control to allow, the minor to be present in any public place or on the premises of any establishment within the county during curfew hours.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 51).
Full Breakdown
the following day, and defines 'minor' as anyone under eighteen. 020 makes it unlawful for a minor to be present in a public place or on the premises of any establishment open to the public during those hours, and separately makes it unlawful for a parent or guardian to knowingly permit, or through insufficient control allow, that presence. The ordinance lists nine specific defenses, including being accompanied by a parent, guardian, or a responsible adult at least 18; running an errand at a parent's direction without a detour; traveling interstate in a vehicle; going to, from, or working an employment activity without a detour; responding to an emergency; standing on the sidewalk in front of the minor's own residence; attending a supervised school, religious, or county-sponsored recreational activity without a detour; exercising First Amendment rights; or being legally emancipated.
Before citing or arresting anyone under this chapter, a peace officer must first ask the person's age and reason for being there, and may not act unless no defense reasonably applies. Each violation is treated as a separate offense.
Violations & Fines
Violating the curfew restriction in Section 10.40.020, by a minor or by a parent or guardian who knowingly permits it, is a misdemeanor under Section 10.40.030. Officers must ask the apparent offender's age and reason for being out before issuing a citation or making an arrest, and each night's violation counts separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Fresno County's curfew hours for minors?
Can my teen be out working a night shift?
What must an officer do before citing a minor for curfew?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fresno County
California rules heatmap·Compare Fresno County to another location·View the California curfew laws overview
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