Valley Jail Section (Van Nuys Station)

Valley Jail Section Visiting Hours and Rules

By Jane Un, licensed bail agent #1843448. Updated October 29, 2026.

The Valley Jail Section in Van Nuys allows one visit per person per day, one visitor at a time, up to 15 minutes. LAPD lists Monday to Friday 9:30 AM to noon and 1 PM to 2:30 PM, and weekends and holidays 8 AM to noon. The watch commander can cancel visits, so call (818) 374-9645 first.

When can I visit at the Valley Jail Section?

LAPD lists these windows for the Valley Jail Section at 6240 Sylmar Ave.

• Monday through Friday, 9:30 AM to noon, then 1 PM to 2:30 PM.
• Saturday, Sunday and holidays, 8 AM to noon.

The weekday afternoon window ends early, at 2:30. If you work, that is the hardest part. Weekend mornings are the longest stretch, and they end at noon sharp, so plan to arrive well before.

Hours can change, and LAPD's page is the source we have. Call the jail at (818) 374-9645 before you drive. Valley traffic on the 405, 101 or 5 is hard to predict.

How long is a visit and who can come?

LAPD's plan sets one visit per day for each person held, with one visitor per visit, and a maximum of 15 minutes. One child may come along with the adult visitor.

That is very different from the county jails, where visits can be scheduled ahead. At Van Nuys, think short and simple. If two relatives want to see the person, only one of them gets the visit that day.

Decide in advance who goes. A spouse or parent may mean the most to the person inside. Sort that out in the car, not at the door.

Can the visit be canceled?

Yes. LAPD says the watch commander may cancel visits when staffing is low or when other needs come up. A jail inside a police station has to handle arrests first.

That is why a phone call before you leave matters. It can save a long drive from Pacoima, Reseda or Canoga Park. If a visit is canceled, it does not mean anything is wrong with the person you came to see.

What about ID and what to wear?

LAPD's pages we reviewed do not list ID rules, a registration step, or a dress code for the Valley Jail Section. We will not guess at them.

Ask when you call (818) 374-9645. As a plain safety step, bring a government photo ID anyway, and wear ordinary, modest clothes. Leave extras in the car. Phones, bags and gifts may not be allowed, so ask what can come inside.

Who can see someone any time?

LAPD says an attorney, a bail bondsperson or a clergy member may visit at any time. That is separate from the family windows above. It is one reason families call a bail agent early. We cannot promise what happens inside, and the jail makes the final decision on each step.

If you are not sure the person is even at Van Nuys, start with our inmate search page. Once they are moved to county custody, visiting rules change completely. See Inmate Reception Center, which lists no public visiting, and CRDF for women.

If the real goal is getting your person home, read about 1% down on approved credit. A bond can end the need to visit at all.

What should Valley families plan before the drive?

The Valley Jail Section sits at 6240 Sylmar Ave., and the trip from Sylmar, Chatsworth or Canoga Park can take a while on the 405, 5 or 101. Leave early, because the morning and early afternoon windows are short.

Write down the full name and booking number of your person, and keep the jail number handy. If the visit is canceled, ask when to try again. If you are still looking for them, see our guide to finding someone in jail.

1% down is a down payment on approved credit, not the price of the bond. The premium is the rate on file with the California Department of Insurance, 10% of the bail amount, or 8% when a private attorney is retained or you or the defendant is a veteran. The balance goes on a payment plan.

More about Valley Jail Section (Van Nuys Station)

• Bail at Valley Jail Section (Van Nuys Station)
• Inmate search
• Mail
• Phone calls
• Release after bail
• Bail amount

Jane Un Bail Bonds is a private bail agent licensed by the California Department of Insurance, License #1843448. We are not part of LAPD, LASD or the courts. Rules change, so check the official source before you go.