King County, WA Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)

King County does not enforce a general nighttime curfew for minors in unincorporated areas. Washington courts have been skeptical of broad juvenile curfews on constitutional grounds (parental rights, freedom of movement, equal protection), and several city curfew ordinances in the state have been struck down or repealed. In practice, juveniles in unincorporated King County may be on public streets at any hour unless accompanied by specific circumstances that trigger other enforcement (trespass, alcohol, drug, or weapon violations; runaway status under RCW 13.32A; dependency or at-risk youth proceedings). Parents may still set their own rules, and law enforcement may engage with unaccompanied minors and inquire into their welfare. Some specific places and situations have narrower curfew-type rules: state parks and many King County parks close at dusk or a posted hour and individuals of any age are trespassing if present after closing; some business districts have posted hours for youth-oriented venues; school-related rules (truancy, campus presence) are enforced under RCW 28A.225. Cities within King County vary: Seattle repealed its general juvenile curfew years ago; most other cities do not have general curfews but may have park or specific-location curfews. Federal and state laws regarding harboring runaways, child endangerment, and alcohol/tobacco/cannabis sales to minors remain fully enforced.