DC expands juvenile curfew zones across four neighborhoods

WASHINGTON - D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has reinstated a limited juvenile curfew for youth under 18 and D.C. police have ordered a Juvenile Curfew Zone for this weekend citing several weeks of disorderly behavior, including large groups of young people causing disruptions in the Navy Yard neighborhood.

New weekend curfew zones

What we know:

MPD has ordered four Juvenile Curfew Zones for this weekend from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Friday, April 17, Saturday, April 18 and Sunday, April 19, 2026.

The three juvenile curfew zones are:

The Navy Yard Juvenile Curfew Zone

• To the north: Interstate 695 and Virginia Avenue, SE from South Capitol Street to 8th Street, SE
• To the east: 8th Street, SE from Virginia Avenue to the Anacostia River
• To the south: Anacostia River
• To the west: South Capitol Street, SE from the Anacostia River to I-695

The perimeter of the RFK Juvenile Curfew Zone is as follows:

• To the north: C Street from 19th Street to 21st Street, NE, Oklahoma Avenue/21st Street from C Street to Benning Road, NE, Benning Road from Oklahoma Avenue, NE to the Anacostia River, C Street from 19th Street to 21st Street, NE, Oklahoma Avenue/21st Street from C Street to Benning Road, NE and Benning Road from Oklahoma Avenue, NE to the Anacostia River
• To the east: Anacostia River
• To the south: Massachusetts Avenue from 19th Street, SE to the Anacostia River
• To the west: 19th Street from Massachusetts Avenue, SE to C Street, NE

The perimeter of the NoMA Juvenile Curfew Zone is as follows:

• To the north: R Street from North Capitol Street to the Metropolitan Branch Trail
• To the east: Metropolitan Branch Trail from R Street to Florida Avenue, NE, Florida Avenue from Metropolitan Branch Trail to 4th Street, NE and 4th Street from Florida Avenue to L Street, NE
• To the south: L Street from 4th Street to North Capitol Street, NE
• To the west: North Capitol Street from L Street to R Street, NE 

The perimeter of the Takoma Juvenile Curfew Zone is as follows:

• To the north:Van Buren Street from 3rd Street and 5th Street, NW
• To the east: 3rd Street from Van Buren Street to Sheridan Street, NW
• To the south: Sheridan Street from 3rd Street to 5th Street, NW
• To the west: 5th Street from Sheridan Street to Van Buren Street, NW

Bowser's order

Big picture view:

The curfew, enacted through a public emergency order, is part of the District’s broader strategy to protect public safety, Bowser’s office said.

The curfew took effect at 11 p.m. on April 16 and will continue nightly. The order remains in place for 15 days unless it is rescinded, modified or extended by the mayor or through subsequent legislation.

The order follows the same responsibilities and exemptions outlined in the Juvenile Curfew Act of 1995.

According to Bowser’s Office, the emergency measure also authorizes the Metropolitan Police Department’s interim chief to declare a juvenile curfew zone when at least nine youths are expected to gather, or have already gathered, in a way that endangers the safety of young people, residents or the public. In those zones, youth under 18 are prohibited from gathering in groups of nine or more beginning at 8 p.m.

RELATED: DC police announce 5 juvenile curfew zones for Easter weekend

"The safety of our young people is the most important thing to me as Chief of Police and members of the Metropolitan Police Department," said Interim Chief of Police Jeffery W. Carroll in a statement. "Curfew zones, and an 11 pm citywide curfew, have been instrumental in keeping our young people safe. MPD will maintain a large presence through the weekend in areas where we have previously seen disorderly activity."

City officials say the expanded curfew authority has been used in targeted situations. So far in 2026, police have designated 14 curfew zones, each lasting no more than three days, resulting in seven total curfew violations.