Washington County, MN Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)

Ordinance No. 125, adopted April 22, 1997, replaced the county's earlier curfew ordinances (Nos. 115 and 116) and set a three-tier curfew for juveniles, defined as anyone under 17 who is not married or legally emancipated. m. on Friday and Saturday nights. m. m. Friday and Saturday. m. on Saturday or Sunday. Section 3(D) makes it unlawful for a parent or guardian to knowingly, or through negligent supervision, permit a juvenile to be out during these hours, and Section 3(E) makes it unlawful for a business proprietor to knowingly let a juvenile remain on the premises during curfew; if the proprietor is absent, the responding officer leaves written notice with an employee, served on the proprietor personally or by certified mail.

Section 4 lists affirmative defenses, including accompaniment by a parent or responsible adult, travel to or from lawful employment, an emergency, participation in a school, religious, or civic-sponsored activity, an errand for a parent, exercise of First Amendment rights, interstate travel, or standing on the sidewalk or boulevard abutting the juvenile's own or a neighboring residence. Proprietors have their own defenses for good-faith reliance on age identification or for promptly notifying police of a curfew violation. Section 6 requires the County Board to review the ordinance yearly, with the County Attorney submitting a report on violations and juvenile crime beforehand.