The City of Charleston’s new juvenile curfew ordinance will be enforced by the Charleston Police Department beginning Friday, June 27, 2025. The curfew is designed to promote safety and prevent harm by limiting unsupervised late-night activity among minors in the city’s busiest public space, the Central Business District.
Under the ordinance, anyone 17 and under is prohibited from remaining in a public place, motor vehicle, or establishment in the Central Business District between 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., unless accompanied by a parent or guardian or falling under a clearly defined exception outlined in the ordinance.
Curfew Hours
Month(s) | Days Covered | Curfew |
June – August | Seven days a week | 9:00 p.m. – 6:00 a.m. |
September – May | Thu., Fri., Sat., Sun. | 9:00 p.m. – 6:00 a.m. |
The curfew boundaries are as follows (map attached below):
- King Street (Carolina Street → Broad Street) — one block east to Meeting Street., one block west to St. Philip Street/Archdale Street
- Market Street (Archdale Street → Concord Street) — one block north & south
- East Bay Street (Guinard Street → Broad Street) — one block east
Chief Walker’s full statement is below:
“First, let me be clear about what this ordinance is and what it is not. This is not about banning young people from the Central Business District. It is not about criminalizing youth. And it is certainly not about removing opportunity. What this is, is a plea. A plea to protect our kids during the hours when they are most vulnerable and when risk is highest. This ordinance calls on parents and guardians to know where their children are, because prevention does not and will not start with police. It starts at home.
One arrest, one encounter, or any instance where our young people are subjected to harm, pulled into the justice system, or left in environments where their vulnerability is exploited, is one too many. And I say that as a father, first and foremost. If I were standing here citing more numbers, it would mean it’s already too late. We cannot wait until the problem becomes so pronounced that this feels like the only option left.
The truth is, the Central Business District is not designed for unsupervised teens during the late-night and early-morning hours. It’s an adult environment with adult energy. And when things go wrong there, they can go wrong fast for our young people. Guns. Fights. Stealing. Drugs. These are not theoretical risks. We are responding to what is already happening.
On June 12, we sat down with students from our Youth Citizens Academy and asked them real questions about this ordinance. They were very engaging and thoughtful in their responses. Some supported the ordinance. Some did not. But they all helped shape it. Their input directly influenced how we explain the curfew to the public. They brought clarity, honesty, and accountability to how we communicate and implement this curfew.
And something else they said stuck with us: they get most of their information from school. That’s where they learn how to make sense of laws, policies, and life beyond the classroom. That’s why we are standing here today with our education partners. The support of the school district is not just symbolic, it’s strategic. It’s essential. If students trust what they hear at school, then schools must be part of this safety effort. And they are.
What Charleston has done is a little different from other cities with curfews. This ordinance is specific and focused on a small area with high activity, known risk, and repeat late-night issues. We are not casting a wide net. We are using a precise tool for a real problem. We’re also not pretending this is the perfect solution. But it is a start. A measured, preventative step designed for Charleston.
And while we talk about prevention, we are equally focused on investment. Our Developer of Youth Programs, Jerome Smalls, and his work are a priority for me and the Charleston Police Department. The soon-to-be-launched Highflyers Program is one part of that effort. It will serve as a pilot program built to mentor and support the very kids we are trying to reach. But let us be honest about what that means: serving a small number of kids is just a drop in the ocean.
That’s why we need to be realistic about what’s currently in place. Right now, the services available to young people in Charleston are limited, especially when you consider the increased exposure to violence and instability, the growing mental health challenges faced by adolescents, and the rise in social isolation. This responsibility doesn’t fall solely on law enforcement or schools. It belongs to all of us. If we want to give young people better choices, we need to build better pathways.
Our goal is to see juvenile contacts level off and then decline as families become more informed and our presence is seen not as enforcement, but as protection. Because that’s what this is really about: keeping young people safe. Not by force, but by foresight. Not through restriction, but through redirection. And speaking as a father: if it helps one young person avoid an egregious decision they can’t recover from, if it keeps one more young person from drifting into danger, then it’s worth it.”
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the goal of the curfew ordinance?
To reduce risk and prevent harm by giving officers a proactive way to engage with unsupervised minors in high-risk areas during high-risk hours.
What does the curfew restrict?
Juveniles 17 and under are not allowed in public areas of the Central Business District between 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., unless an exception applies.
What are the exceptions?
The curfew does not apply to minors who are:
- Accompanied by a parent, guardian, or other responsible adult.
- On the way to, from, or engaged in legitimate employment or an errand at a parent/guardian’s direction (no detours).
- Traveling via motor vehicle, train, or bus involved in interstate travel.
- Responding to an emergency: an unforeseen circumstance requiring immediate action to prevent serious injury or loss of life (fire, natural disaster, crash, etc.).
- On the sidewalk immediately abutting the juvenile’s residence.
- Going to, attending, or returning from a school, religious, civic, or public-organization activity sponsored by adults (no detours).
- First Amendment activity: free exercise of religion, freedom of speech, or peaceful assembly.
How will the ordinance be enforced?
The first priority for officers is the safety and well-being of the juvenile. If a young person is out during curfew hours, officers will start by checking that they are safe and not in immediate danger. Before taking any enforcement action, the officer will ask the juvenile’s age and the reason they are out. Officers will then make contact with a parent or guardian and work to arrange a safe location where the juvenile can be reunited with them.
No enforcement action will be taken unless the officer has probable cause to believe that a curfew violation occurred and does not find a valid explanation or legal exception based on the circumstances. If a violation has occurred and no exception applies, the officer may take further enforcement action. In most cases, the juvenile will still be released to a parent, guardian, or another responsible adult.
What happens if a minor is found in violation?
Officers will check for exceptions, contact a parent or guardian, and, if necessary, provide transport to a safe location. If a citation is issued for a violation, Family Court will prescribe any punitive measures while adults found in violation are subject to a fine not exceeding $500 or up to 30 days in jail.
Why is this ordinance necessary?
Late-night encounters with unsupervised minors are a persistent problem, especially in the Central Business District. The ordinance addresses these real trends with a tool to intervene before harm occurs.
What supportive programs are available?
CPD is launching a youth initiative focused on trauma-informed care, mentorship, career development, and restorative approaches to behavior, including the new Highflyers Program. Additional resources can be found here: https://charleston-sc.gov/2090/ProgramsResources
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Media Release
Release Date: June 24, 2025
Media Contact: Sgt. C. Stinson