DC Curfew Law

November 2025 Mayor’s Order

On November 1, 2025, Mayor Muriel Bowser enacted a limited juvenile curfew for all youth under the age of 18.

All juveniles under the age of 18 years old are subject to a curfew that begins at 11:00 p.m. on November 1, 2025, until 6:00 a.m. the following morning, through Wednesday, November 5, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.

Additionally, Mayor’s Order 2025-155 authorizes the Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) to:

Designate special zones that she determines to be at high risk for disorderly conduct by youths and is empowered to establish earlier curfew times for those zones, for youths under 18 years old, beginning at 6:00 p.m.; and
Declare a temporary curfew zone upon her finding that a group of at least eight youth is imminently scheduled to gather, or has gathered, and the safety of the youth, residents, or the public is endangered.

A list of Special Juvenile Curfew Zones is included in a link at the bottom of this page.

Juvenile Curfew Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

The Juvenile Curfew Emergency Amendment Act of 2025 took effect on July 7, 2025 and expired on October 5, 2025. The DC Council is considering extending the legislation.

Does the curfew law apply to non-District residents?

Yes. The curfew law applies to all persons age 17 and under who are in the District of Columbia during curfew hours. This includes both District residents as well as young people who reside elsewhere.

What are the penalties for violating the law?

A parent or legal guardian of a juvenile age 17 and under commits an offense if he or she knowingly permits, or by insufficient control allows, a minor to violate the curfew law. Any adult who violates the Juvenile Curfew Act is subject to a fine not to exceed $500 or community service. A minor who violates curfew may be ordered to perform up to 25 hours of community service.

Persons age 17 and under are exempt from curfew if they:

Accompany a parent or guardian
Complete an errand at the direction of a parent or guardian, without detour or stop
Ride in a motor vehicle involved in interstate travel
Work or return home from a job, without detour or stop
Become involved in an emergency
Stand on a sidewalk that joins their residence or the residence of a next-door neighbor, if the neighbor did not complain to police
Attend an official school, religious, or other recreational activity sponsored by the District of Columbia, a civic organization, or other similar group that takes responsibility for the juvenile (this includes traveling to and from the activity)
Exercise their First Amendment rights protected by the US Constitution, including the free exercise of speech, religion, and right of assembly

Is a Curfew Law Constitutional?

Passed in 1995, The Juvenile Curfew Act of 1995 (DC Code 2-1541 et. seq.) was set up to protect the health and safety of young people and our communities. After the law was challenged in court, MPD stopped enforcement until the court decided whether the law was constitutional. In June 1999, the US Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia found the law to be constitutional. The District began enforcing the law again in the fall of 1999.

Additional Resources

For more information on programs and safety tips for young people, visit:

mpdc

MPDC