Hawthorne, CA Curfew Laws: Park Curfew (2026)

Hawthorne enforces two related overnight rules. Park hours: under the Park and Recreation Department provisions (Chapter 2.22 area of the code), no person may 'remain, stay or loiter' in public parks 'between the hours of eleven p.m. of any day and six a.m. the following day, without special written permit from the director of parks and recreation.' This applies to everyone, not just minors. Minors' curfew: Chapter 9.74 defines 'curfew hours' as 'the period from 10:00 p.m. any evening of the week, until 6:00 a.m. the following day' and makes it unlawful for a minor to be in any public place during those hours, and for a parent or guardian to knowingly permit it. Recognized exceptions include a minor on an errand directed by a parent or guardian, engaged in employment activity, or attending an official school, religious, or recreational activity supervised by adults and sponsored by the city or a similar responsible organization. Before enforcing, an officer must ask the minor's age and reason for being out and may not cite or arrest unless reasonably believing an offense occurred with no applicable defense. A minor violating the curfew is guilty of a misdemeanor handled under juvenile court procedure.