Maricopa County, AZ Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Under-16 curfew
- 10:00 PM to 5:00 AM
- Ages 16-17 curfew
- Midnight to 5:00 AM
- Scope
- Unincorporated Maricopa County only
- Offense classification
- Incorrigible offense for minors
- Enacted
- Ordinance P-12, June 3, 1998
Summary
Maricopa County bars minors under 16 from unincorporated public areas between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., and 16- and 17-year-olds between midnight and 5 a.m., under Ordinance P-12.
It is unlawful for any minor under the age of sixteen (16) years to be in, about, or upon any place in the unincorporated areas of Maricopa County away from the property where the youth resides between the hours of 10:00 P.M. and 5:00 A.M. of the following day. It is unlawful for any minor sixteen (16) years and older and under the age of eighteen (18) years, to be in, about, or upon any place in the unincorporated areas of Maricopa County away from the property where the minor resides between the hours of 12:00 Midnight and 5:00 A.M.
Full Breakdown
Ordinance P-12, passed June 3, 1998, makes it unlawful for a minor under 16 to be away from home in unincorporated Maricopa County between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., and for a minor 16 or 17 to be out between midnight and 5 a.m. Deputies must first try to determine the minor's age and reason for being out before citing or arresting. Recognized defenses include being accompanied by a parent or guardian, engaged in work, travel, an emergency, or First Amendment activity, or married and 16 or older. A violation is designated an incorrigible offense for minors, and each violation is a separate offense.
Violations & Fines
Deputies may cite or detain the minor and contact a parent or guardian; a violation is designated an incorrigible offense for minors, with each incident charged as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Maricopa County curfew apply inside Phoenix or other cities?
What excuses a minor from the curfew?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Maricopa County
Compare Maricopa County to another location·View the Arizona curfew laws overview
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