Groups of nine or more minors face restrictions beginning Friday night
WASHINGTON, DC – Groups of nine or more unaccompanied minors will face new nighttime restrictions around the U Street corridor and Banneker Recreation Center beginning Friday, as DC police establish a temporary Youth Curfew Zone lasting through Labor Day weekend.
The Metropolitan Police Department announced the designated zone Thursday. It takes effect at 8 p.m. Friday and remains in place until 11 p.m. Monday, Sept. 7.
Under the restriction, people younger than 18 are prohibited from gathering in groups of nine or more in public places or on the premises of establishments within the designated area unless they are participating in activities exempted under DC curfew law.
The zone encompasses an area around the Banneker Recreation Center and U Street corridor. Its boundaries include portions of Euclid Street NW, Georgia Avenue NW, 7th Street NW, 11th Street NW, 15th Street NW, V Street NW and T Street NW.
The temporary restriction follows changes enacted under the Youth Curfew Act of 2026.
Under the law, DC’s police chief can designate a Youth Curfew Zone applying to groups of at least nine youths in an area where the presence of unaccompanied minors is likely to endanger public safety.
The temporary zone is separate from DC’s existing citywide curfew for people under 18.
From September through June, the citywide youth curfew runs from 11 p.m. until 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday. On weekends, the curfew runs from 12:01 a.m. until 6 a.m.
MPD has published a map of the temporary zone and information about exemptions to the restrictions on its website.
Key Points
- A temporary Youth Curfew Zone takes effect around the U Street corridor and Banneker Recreation Center at 8 p.m. Friday.
- The restriction applies to groups of nine or more people under 18, subject to exemptions under DC law.
- The designated zone remains in effect through 11 p.m. Monday, Sept. 7.
