West Palm Beach, FL Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)

and confines the curfew to the "downtown area," a zone bounded by the center of the Intracoastal Waterway to the east, Banyan Boulevard extended to the north, Okeechobee Boulevard extended to the south, and the western right-of-way of Australian Avenue. Under § 54-232, a minor commits an offense by entering or remaining in a public place or establishment downtown during those hours; an establishment owner or employee who knowingly allows an unaccompanied minor to stay, and a parent or guardian who knowingly permits or through insufficient control allows it, each separately violate the ordinance.

Section 54-233 lists ten defenses, including being accompanied by a parent, guardian, or a supervising adult at least 21 years old; traveling in bona fide interstate travel; attending First Amendment-protected activity; traveling directly to or from lawful employment; responding to an emergency; attending a supervised school, religious, or recreational activity; being married; standing on the sidewalk abutting the minor's own or a consenting neighbor's residence; or running a parent-authorized errand by direct route. Under § 54-234, a West Palm Beach police officer who reasonably suspects a violation may stop and detain the minor, must ask age and reason for presence before citing, and may issue a written warning, order the minor out of the area, return the minor home, or take protective custody and deliver the minor to a police-designated holding location under Fla. ch. 39 if no parent can be reached.