The Detroit curfew keeps anyone under 18 off public streets late at night, with two age tiers: minors 15 and under must be indoors from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM, and 16- and 17-year-olds from 11:00 PM to 6:00 AM. The rules run every night of the year and are codified in Chapter 29, Article III of the Detroit City Code. Both the minor and the parent can be cited for a violation.
Curfew Hours by Age
The split matters. A 16-year-old walking home at 10:30 PM is within the law; a 15-year-old in the same spot at the same time is not.
- Age 15 and under: 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM.
- Ages 16 and 17: 11:00 PM to 6:00 AM.
Emancipated minors are generally exempt, but an officer has no way to confirm emancipation without documentation. If your teen is emancipated, they should carry a copy of the court order.
Where the Curfew Applies
Section 29-3-11 covers any public street, sidewalk, playground, vacant lot, or other unsupervised public place within city limits.1Municode Library. Detroit Code of Ordinances Chapter 29 – Minors “Other unsupervised public place” is broad on purpose. Parks, alleys, public parking lots, and the ground around public buildings all fit.
The ordinance does not distinguish between being on foot and being in a vehicle. A minor sitting in a parked car on a public street during restricted hours is exposed to enforcement the same way a minor walking down the sidewalk is. Bus stops and other transit waiting areas count as public spaces too. If a person under 18 is not in a private residence or on supervised private property during curfew hours, they’re in potential violation regardless of how they got there.
Legal Exceptions
The ordinance carves out specific situations where a minor can be in public during restricted hours:
- Accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or other responsible adult.
- Traveling directly to or from a lawful job. A work permit or a signed letter from the employer is the easiest proof if stopped.
- Seeking urgent medical care or responding to an emergency.
- Engaging in First Amendment activity, including religious services and political demonstrations, or traveling directly to and from it.
Every exception requires that the minor actually be doing the protected activity, or moving directly to or from it. “On my way to a friend’s house” is not an exception. Officers ask questions to figure out whether one of these genuinely applies.
What Happens When a Minor Is Cited
An officer who finds a minor in violation typically takes the minor into custody and transports them to a designated location. The city then contacts parents or guardians to pick their child up, and a citation goes with the encounter.
A first-time violation is handled mostly as a safe-return matter. Repeated violations can lead to formal petitions in juvenile court, and at that point the court can impose conditions on the minor and the family, including programming or community service.
What Parents Face
A parent or guardian who knowingly allows a child to violate the curfew can be charged with a misdemeanor. In mid-2025, the Detroit City Council restructured how those charges are penalized: fines are now $250 for a first offense and $500 for a second, and jail time was removed as a possible punishment.1Municode Library. Detroit Code of Ordinances Chapter 29 – Minors
A cited parent can avoid the fine entirely by completing parental courses and enrolling their child in city-offered programming. The 36th District Court also has discretion to connect families with community-based treatment, family services, and employment assistance instead of a fine. If you get a citation, ask about the class alternative before paying.
The Halloween Curfew
Detroit tightens curfew enforcement around Halloween. During the Halloween period, the city has historically imposed a 6:00 PM curfew for minors, hours earlier than the standard 10:00 or 11:00 PM cutoff. The exact dates and hours are announced each year, and the city hosts “Halloween in the D” events at police precincts, recreation centers, and fire stations as an alternative for kids.2City of Detroit. Halloween in the D
Enforcement during the Halloween window works the same way as any other curfew violation. The compressed hours catch families off guard, so watch for the city’s announcement as October approaches.
Clearing a Juvenile Record
A curfew citation that escalates into a juvenile court adjudication creates a juvenile record. Michigan does not erase those records automatically at 18. A person has to petition the court that handled the case to set the adjudication aside under MCL 712A.18e.3Michigan Legislature. Michigan Compiled Laws 712A.18e
The application cannot be filed until at least one year after the court’s jurisdiction over the person ends. Up to three misdemeanor-level juvenile adjudications can be set aside, provided the applicant has no adult felony convictions. The judge has discretion to grant or deny.3Michigan Legislature. Michigan Compiled Laws 712A.18e Until the court acts, the record can surface in background checks for employment, college, or military enlistment, so filing once eligible is worth doing.