Arizona Curfew for Minors: Hours, Exceptions & Penalties

Arizona has no statewide curfew for minors. Curfew rules are set by each city, town, or county, and while the exact language varies, the pattern across the state is consistent: children under 16 generally cannot be in public between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., and 16- and 17-year-olds cannot be out between midnight and 5:00 a.m. Several exceptions apply, and penalties can reach beyond a fine to a suspended driver license.

Typical Curfew Hours by Age

Check your own city or town code, because the ordinance where you live is what actually applies. That said, most Arizona jurisdictions divide minors into two age groups:

Under 16: no public presence from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
Ages 16 and 17: no public presence from midnight to 5:00 a.m.

Maricopa County’s Ordinance P-12 uses exactly this structure for unincorporated areas.¹ Scottsdale applies the same hours seven days a week, with a 10:00 p.m. cutoff for those 15 and under and midnight for 16- and 17-year-olds.² Tucson’s municipal code follows the same framework. A few cities, including Phoenix, push the start time for younger minors to midnight on weekends while keeping the 10:00 p.m. weekday cutoff.

When a Minor Can Be Out After Curfew

Every Arizona curfew ordinance carves out situations where a minor is lawfully in public during restricted hours. State law actually requires county ordinances to include several of these exceptions as a floor.³ The common ones:

Accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or another adult with supervisory custody.
Traveling directly to or from a job, with parental permission and no detours.
Responding to a genuine emergency.
Running an errand a parent or guardian specifically directed the minor to run.
Engaged in First Amendment activity like a political event, protest, or religious service.
Married and at least 16, or serving in the military.
On the sidewalk in front of the minor’s own home, or on a neighbor’s property with permission.

Maricopa County’s ordinance includes all of these and also covers minors traveling interstate with parental permission.¹

Penalties for a Curfew Violation

A curfew violation is a petty offense in Arizona. The statutory ceiling on a petty-offense fine is $300.⁴ In practice, first-time offenders rarely see the maximum. Juvenile hearing officers handle these cases and have broad discretion.⁵

For a first offense, the hearing officer will often route the minor into a diversion program instead of imposing a fine. Diversion can include community service, counseling, traffic school, or an approved educational course. City and town attorneys can set up these programs with the county attorney’s approval.⁵

For repeat violations, or when diversion isn’t appropriate, the hearing officer can order a monetary penalty up to $500 payable to the agency processing the case. When no specific fine is set for the offense, the cap drops to $150.⁵

A Missed Court Date Can Cost the Driver License

This is the consequence most families don’t see coming. If a minor fails to appear for a court date or ignores a court order tied to a curfew violation, the hearing officer will direct the Arizona Department of Transportation to suspend the minor’s driver license or refuse to issue one. The suspension holds until the minor turns 18 or complies with the court’s order.⁶ For a 15- or 16-year-old, that can mean years without driving privileges over what began as a citation for being out too late. The court warns the minor of this consequence when it issues its initial order.

When Parents Face Their Own Penalties

Arizona doesn’t stop at the minor. A parent or legal guardian who knowingly allows a curfew violation, or who fails to exercise sufficient control over where the child is at night, can face penalties under the local ordinance.⁷

State law also requires a parent, guardian, or custodian to appear in court with the minor when the case is resolved. A judge can waive that requirement only for good cause stated on the record. A parent who simply doesn’t show up will get a show-cause order that can result in a contempt finding.⁶ A curfew citation isn’t something that quietly goes away if ignored.

The Separate Nighttime Rule for Teen Drivers

Curfew ordinances apply to minors in public generally. Arizona has a separate nighttime rule that applies specifically to teens driving on a Class G (graduated) license, and families often confuse the two. For the first six months after getting a Class G license, the teen cannot drive on public roads between midnight and 5:00 a.m.⁸

The nighttime driving rule has two exceptions:

A parent or legal guardian with a full license is in the front passenger seat.
The teen is driving directly to or from a school-sponsored activity, a job, a religious activity, or a family emergency.

The same six-month period limits passengers: no more than one passenger under 18, unless the additional passengers are siblings or a parent is riding along. Wireless devices are off-limits behind the wheel except for emergencies or hands-free navigation.⁸

These violations are civil, not criminal. A first offense carries a $75 maximum fine and extends the restricted period by 30 days. A second offense raises the fine to $100 and adds 60 days.⁸ They stack on top of any local curfew consequences, so a teen stopped at 2:00 a.m. without a valid exception can end up with both a curfew citation and a Class G violation from the same traffic stop.

1
Maricopa County, AZ. Ordinance P-12 – Section 1: Curfew Hours for Minors
2
City of Scottsdale. Juvenile
3
Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 11-251 – Powers of Board
4
Arizona Legislature. Arizona Revised Statutes 13-802 – Fines for Misdemeanors
5
Arizona Legislature. Arizona Revised Statutes 8-323 – Juvenile Hearing Officer; Appointment; Term; Compensation; Hearings; Required Attendance; Contempt
6
Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 8-323 – Juvenile Hearing Officer; Appointment; Term; Compensation; Hearings; Required Attendance; Contempt
7
Paradise Valley, AZ – Official Website. Curfew
8
Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 28-3174 – Class G Driver Licenses; Restrictions; Civil Penalties