D.C. Police Set Juvenile Curfew Zones in Navy Yard and U Street Corridor This Weekend

Curfew zones activated for limited areas and hours

Washington, D.C., will impose temporary juvenile curfew zones in the Navy Yard neighborhood and along the U Street corridor this weekend, expanding the city’s use of targeted restrictions intended to prevent large youth gatherings that officials say can escalate into disorder or violence.

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has posted zone boundaries and enforcement hours for the weekend of March 6–8, 2026. In Navy Yard, the zone is bounded by South Capitol Street SE to the west, I-695 to the north, 8th Street SE to the east, and the Anacostia River to the south, with the zone scheduled from 8:00 p.m. Friday through 11:00 p.m. Sunday. The MPD has also listed a U Street corridor zone for the same weekend on its designated-curfew-zone notices.

How curfew zones differ from the citywide curfew

Separate from the weekend zones, a citywide juvenile curfew is in effect in the District. Under MPD’s public guidance on the currently active law, people under 18 may not remain in public places or on the premises of any establishment across the District during curfew hours, subject to listed exemptions. MPD states the citywide curfew hours are 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., seven days a week, under temporary legislation scheduled to remain in effect through April 15, 2026.

MPD describes juvenile curfew zones as geographically limited areas where additional restrictions apply during hours set by police leadership within statutory limits. Under MPD’s description of zone rules, youths under 18 who are gathering in a group of nine or more within a declared zone must leave unless an exemption applies.

Exemptions and penalties listed by MPD

MPD lists exemptions that can allow minors to be out during curfew hours, including being with a parent or guardian, traveling directly to or from work or an organized activity, responding to an emergency, and exercising First Amendment rights, among other circumstances.

• Accompanied by a parent or guardian
• Traveling directly to or from work or a qualifying activity
• Involved in an emergency
• Exercising First Amendment rights (speech, religion, assembly)

MPD’s guidance states that a minor who violates curfew may be ordered to perform up to 25 hours of community service. MPD also states that a parent or legal guardian can commit an offense if they knowingly permit, or by insufficient control allow, a minor to violate curfew; MPD lists potential penalties for adults that include a fine of up to $500 or community service.

Background: policy expansion and prior enforcement updates

The use of designated zones has grown over the past year as District officials have pursued tools aimed at preventing large gatherings of minors in high-traffic commercial areas. Emergency amendments adopted in 2025 authorized the mayor to extend curfew hours in defined circumstances and authorized the MPD chief to establish temporary juvenile curfew zones.

MPD has described its approach in past zone enforcement as emphasizing engagement and voluntary compliance.

In a July 2025 public update following a Navy Yard juvenile curfew zone, MPD reported no arrests or disturbances involving juveniles during zone hours, while noting curfew violations that occurred later during citywide curfew hours, including one reported near U Street.

For this weekend, MPD has advised the public to consult its posted maps and boundaries for the Navy Yard and U Street corridor zones and to follow onsite instructions during enforcement hours.