Tuscaloosa, AL Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)

Tuscaloosa City Code Sec. 17-20 sets three curfew windows. From Sunday through Thursday, minors under 18 must stay off public streets, sidewalks, parks, and business premises from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m., a window that also applies on Halloween and New Year's Eve regardless of the weekday. On Friday and Saturday nights, and the night before any city-recognized holiday, curfew runs from 11:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. A separate school-hours curfew keeps minors out of public places from 9:00 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. on days Tuscaloosa city schools are in session, covering daytime truancy as well as nighttime hours.

The ordinance defines three offenses: a minor who remains in a public place or an establishment during curfew hours; a parent or custodian who negligently allows a minor in their care to violate the curfew; and an operator or establishment employee who knowingly lets a minor stay on the premises during curfew. Businesses within the city limits or police jurisdiction must conspicuously post the curfew hours or face a violation of their own. Listed defenses include being accompanied by a parent, running a parent-directed errand, traveling to or from work or a supervised school or religious activity within one hour, responding to an emergency, being on the property where the minor resides, and exercising First Amendment rights such as assembly or free exercise of religion.

Enforcement runs through the juvenile court for minors and the municipal court for adults. Before making an arrest, officers have discretion to question a minor about age and reason for being out. The police department and municipal court must report enforcement statistics to the mayor and city council every six months.