Wichita, KS Curfew Laws: Juvenile Curfew (2026)
Key Facts
- Under 16 curfew
- 11 p.m.-6 a.m. (midnight Fri/Sat)
- 16-17 curfew
- Midnight-6 a.m. (1 a.m. weekends)
- First parent fine
- $50-$500 after written warning
- Business violation fine
- $50-$500 plus court costs
Summary
Wichita bars unsupervised minors from public places overnight: 11 p.m.-6 a.m. weeknights for kids 15 and under, midnight-6 a.m. for 16-17 year-olds, with later weekend cutoffs.
It is unlawful for any minor under the age of eighteen years to loiter, idle, wander, stroll, or play in or upon the public streets... unsupervised by an adult... (1)For minors age fifteen and under, between the hours of eleven p.m. on any day and six a.m. of the following day, except on Fridays and Saturdays when the hours shall be twelve midnight to six a.m.; (2)For minors age sixteen and seventeen, between the hours of twelve midnight on any day and six a.m. of the following day, except on weekends when the hours shall be one a.m. to six a.m.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 35).
Full Breakdown
Under Wichita Municipal Code Sec. 5.52.010, minors 15 and under can't loiter or wander unsupervised in streets, parks, businesses, or other public places between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. (12 midnight to 6 a.m. Fri/Sat nights). Minors 16-17 face a midnight-to-6-a.m. curfew, pushed to 1 a.m.-6 a.m. on weekends. Exceptions cover minors with a parent/guardian, on an emergency errand, coming from work or a supervised school/religious/civic activity, on their own sidewalk, exercising First Amendment rights, or passing through in interstate travel. Parents who knowingly let a minor violate the curfew after a prior written warning, and business owners who knowingly let a minor stay on premises during curfew hours, are separately liable under Sec. 5.52.020 and 5.52.030.
Violations & Fines
Minors are handled through juvenile court, not fined directly. Parents face a mandatory $50-$500 fine for a first offense after written warning, $100-$500 for repeat offenses, plus costs; business owners/employees who knowingly harbor a curfew violator face a mandatory $50-$500 fine plus court costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Wichita curfew apply if a minor is coming home from work?
Can police fine a minor directly for breaking curfew?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Wichita
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