Waterloo, IA Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)

Section 5-2A-1, adopted by Ordinance 4828 on August 14, 2006, defines a minor as any unemancipated person under seventeen and bars that minor from being, traveling, loitering, wandering, strolling or playing in alleys, streets, public places, businesses, amusement places, buildings or vacant lots between 12:30 A.M. and 5:00 A.M. Exceptions cover a minor accompanied by a parent or guardian, traveling to or from an approved job, attending a church, municipal or school function, running an emergency errand, engaged in a legitimate trade the minor is legally permitted to work in, or one whose responsible adult reports the violation to the police department within two hours of learning of it.

Business and amusement operators must order a minor found on the premises during curfew hours to leave, and if the minor refuses, must notify the police department. An officer who finds a minor violating curfew delivers that minor to an authorized juvenile holding facility until a responsible adult retrieves the minor or the curfew period ends. Penalties escalate by offense: a minor's first violation draws a $100.00 fine plus 8 hours of community service, the second a $250.00 fine plus 12 hours, and the third or later a $250.00 fine plus 16 hours, or alternatively $500.00 with no community service at the court's discretion.

A parent, guardian or responsible adult who allows the violation faces the identical escalating fines and service hours, plus a fee covering the city's actual costs of detaining, transporting, processing and supervising the minor, capped at those actual costs and set by council resolution.