In Chicago, the curfew for minors requires anyone under 18 to be off public streets by 10:00 p.m., with earlier cutoffs for children under 12, and violations can bring fines of up to $500 per offense under Municipal Code Section 8-16-020.
Curfew Hours by Age
The time a minor has to be home depends on how old they are. For anyone 12 through 17, the curfew runs from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. every night of the week. For children younger than 12, it starts earlier:
- Sunday through Thursday: 8:30 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
- Friday and Saturday: 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
The same hours apply on weekends as on weeknights for the 12-and-older group.1American Legal Publishing. Chicago Municipal Code 8-16-020 Curfew Hours for Minors
Who Can Be Penalized
The ordinance defines a minor as anyone under 18. Three groups can face penalties when a minor is out past curfew: the minor, a parent or guardian who failed to exercise sufficient control, and a business owner or employee who knowingly allowed a minor to stay on the premises during restricted hours.1American Legal Publishing. Chicago Municipal Code 8-16-020 Curfew Hours for Minors
Illinois has a separate state curfew under 720 ILCS 5/12C-60 that only covers minors under 17 and starts at 11:00 p.m. on weeknights and 12:01 a.m. on weekends.2Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Code 720 ILCS 5/12C-60 – Curfew Inside Chicago, the city ordinance is the stricter rule and is what gets enforced.
When Being Out After Curfew Is Allowed
Not every minor on the street after 10:00 p.m. is breaking the law. The ordinance builds in several defenses:
- Being accompanied by a parent, guardian, or another adult at least 18 years old who has been authorized by a parent or guardian to have custody. The code counts natural, adoptive, and stepparents.
- Traveling directly home from a school, religious, or recreational activity supervised by adults, or from a ticketed event. Proof like a ticket stub or wristband helps, but the legal requirement is going home without detours.
- Being engaged in lawful employment or traveling directly to or from work.
- Responding to an emergency.
The state curfew statute recognizes similar defenses, including exercising First Amendment rights such as attending a protest or a religious gathering.2Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Code 720 ILCS 5/12C-60 – Curfew
Fines and Repeat Offenses
Each day or partial day of a curfew violation counts as a separate offense. A single violation carries a fine of up to $500, community service, or both. If a minor is cited three or more times within a 12-month period, the maximum fine triples to $1,500 per subsequent violation in that period. Parents and guardians face the same fine structure when they are found to have exercised insufficient control.1American Legal Publishing. Chicago Municipal Code 8-16-020 Curfew Hours for Minors
Community service can include attending supportive social services. When an officer issues a citation, the ordinance requires them to hand over written information about services available through the Department of Family and Support Services.1American Legal Publishing. Chicago Municipal Code 8-16-020 Curfew Hours for Minors
What Happens During a Police Stop
Before taking any enforcement action, an officer must ask a young person’s age and the reason they are out. This step is mandatory under the ordinance. If the answer or the circumstances point to a valid defense, the officer is supposed to let the minor go. A citation or arrest is permitted only when the officer reasonably believes no exemption applies.1American Legal Publishing. Chicago Municipal Code 8-16-020 Curfew Hours for Minors
During larger downtown gatherings, minors who refuse to disperse have been taken to a police district station so parents can pick them up. Routine encounters usually end in a conversation, a citation when warranted, and the required social services handout.
Millennium Park’s Earlier Restriction
Millennium Park has its own rule that kicks in well before the citywide curfew. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult 21 or older after 6:00 p.m. Thursday through Sunday and after 10:00 p.m. Monday through Wednesday. The accompanying adult needs a valid ID and can escort up to four young people. Unaccompanied minors are asked to leave.3City of Chicago. Curfew for Underage Residents Press Release If a family plans an evening at the park, that 6:00 p.m. weekend cutoff is the number to remember, not 10:00 p.m.
Snap Curfews Are Not in Effect
Chicago has debated a “snap curfew” that would let police declare temporary, location-specific curfews on short notice in response to large gatherings of minors. In June 2025, the City Council passed a 30-minute snap curfew ordinance by a 27 to 22 vote. Mayor Brandon Johnson vetoed the measure, and the Council failed to override the veto in July 2025. As of early 2026, no expanded curfew authority beyond the standing 10:00 p.m. rule is in force, though the proposal remains a live topic at City Hall.