Prince George's County Imposes Friday-Saturday Juvenile Curfew at National Harbor

Prince George’s County Police Department has designated National Harbor a special curfew zone on weekend nights, barring unaccompanied minors from the waterfront complex from 5:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The measure is aimed at reducing large, unsupervised gatherings that county officials and business owners say have strained security and local commerce.

National Harbor management posted an advisory that reads in part, "The Juvenile Curfew is in effect from 5pm – 5am daily on Friday & Saturday. No unaccompanied minor may be at the National Harbor during these times. See curfew exceptions and penalties below. Parents/Guardians/Businesses are subject to a civil fine up to $250 plus costs." Prince George’s County Police have said the curfew was imposed at the request of businesses and members of the Prince George’s County Council after complaints about youth congregations. Police described the situation as an "increasing number of unaccompanied juveniles" prompting the restriction.

The curfew carries a set of exceptions that permit minors to be in the Harbor under certain conditions. Minors accompanied by a parent or legal guardian are allowed, as are minors accompanied by a designated adult over age 21 when authorized by a parent or guardian. Minors may remain on the sidewalk in front of their home, or a next-door neighbor's residence, provided the neighbor does not complain to police. The curfew also exempts minors traveling directly home from a school activity, a religious or other association event, or from work.

Enforcement will include civil penalties posted by National Harbor management; the notice cites fines up to $250 plus costs for parents, guardians and businesses that fail to comply. County law provides an additional enforcement framework: Prince George’s County Police Chief Malik Aziz has previously explained that the county’s existing curfew ordinance, in force since 1995, authorizes escalating fines starting at $50 for a first offense and rising to $250 for repeat violations. It has not yet been clarified publicly whether both the property-level civil fines and county curfew penalties will be applied concurrently or how the two systems will be coordinated.

The curfew follows high-profile incidents at the waterfront, including an April 2024 episode in which police said about 800 teenagers gathered, with reports of fighting, shoplifting and smoking; some participants were described as being as young as 10. National Harbor has used temporary curfews before, including one issued on Valentine’s Day in 2025.

For parents, business owners and Harbor patrons, the new restriction means planning evening travel differently and ensuring supervised adults accompany underage family members. Peterson Companies, which manages National Harbor from 165 Waterfront Street, has posted curfew information; residents should watch for official updates from Prince George’s County Police for definitive details on the age cutoff, exact effective date, enforcement procedures and the duration of the curfew.

The designation signals a renewed focus on public safety at the waterfront; expect increased patrols and conversations this month between police, council members and Harbor management about how long the restrictions will remain in place and whether additional community measures will be needed.