Akron's Public Conduct: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles public conduct a little differently. In Akron, Ohio, there are 5 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Loitering Rules

Akron's only loitering ordinance targets loitering to solicit sexual activity for hire in or near a public place: streets, sidewalks, parking lots, doorways, or transit facilities. Beckoning, approaching vehicles, or blocking free passage for that purpose is a third-degree misdemeanor under City Code § 133.091.

Key details: Governing section: Akron City Code § 133.091. Adopted by: Ordinance 58-2000. Offense classification: Misdemeanor of the third degree. Maximum penalty: 60 days jail, $750 fine. Covers: Loitering to solicit sex for hire only.

A violation of § 133.091(A) is loitering to engage in solicitation, a misdemeanor of the third degree. Under the Title 13 general penalty section, § 130.99(C)(3) and (D)(3), that carries up to 60 days in jail and a fine of up to $750. A related soliciting conviction under § 133.09 becomes a first-degree misdemeanor on a repeat offense, and § 133.10 allows a prior conviction under any of §§ 133.07 through 133.091 to be introduced as evidence in a later prosecution.

This is one of the stricter rules in Akron's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Jaywalking

Akron pedestrians who cross outside a marked crosswalk or an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection must yield to every vehicle on the road under City Code § 77.05. The same section bans diagonal crossings without a signal and forbids crossing anywhere but a marked crosswalk between two signal-controlled intersections.

Key details: Governing section: City Code § 77.05. First-offense fine cap: $150. Applies to: Crossings outside a crosswalk. Diagonal crossing: Barred without a signal. State authority: R.C. § 4511.48.

A § 77.05 violation is a minor misdemeanor under § 70.99, punishable by a fine of up to $150 for a first offense within a year. A second offense in the same year becomes a fourth-degree misdemeanor (fine up to $350), and a third or later offense in that year becomes a third-degree misdemeanor (fine up to $750, plus up to sixty days in jail).

Akron is more permissive than most cities when it comes to jaywalking. That said, there are still limits.

Outdoor Smoking Restrictions

Akron's Clean Indoor Air chapter bans lighted smoking materials in a long list of public places, from transit vehicles and theaters to elevators and libraries, then extends the ban to every other public place not on that list unless a specific exemption applies. Violators face a minor misdemeanor under § 102.08.

Key details: Governing chapter: Chapter 102, Clean Indoor Air. Key section: § 102.05, public places. Enforcing agency: Akron Health Department. Main exemptions: Bars, private homes, tobacco shops. Penalty: Minor misdemeanor per offense.

Section 102.08 makes it unlawful to smoke or possess lighted smoking material anywhere Chapter 102 restricts it, and any violation is a minor misdemeanor. Each day a violation continues counts as a separate, punishable offense. Proprietors who fail to post required signage or direct smokers to designated areas also face enforcement under § 102.05(C).

This is one of the stricter rules in Akron's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Skateboarding Rules

Akron Codified Ordinances § 139.14 makes it a crime to use, operate, or ride a skateboard anywhere within city limits after daylight hours. The ban covers streets, sidewalks, parking lots, and any other space citywide, applies to riders of every age, and carries a third-degree misdemeanor charge for anyone caught skating after dark.

Key details: Banned activity: Skateboarding anywhere in city limits. Banned hours: After daylight hours, citywide. Age covered: All riders, no age limit stated. Penalty: 3rd-degree misdemeanor. Maximum fine: $750 under § 130.99(D).

Riding, operating, or using a skateboard anywhere in Akron after daylight hours is a misdemeanor of the third degree under § 139.14(B). Ohio's Title 13 penalty schedule at § 130.99(C)-(D) caps that charge at sixty days in jail and a $750 fine, the same maximum Akron applies to other third-degree misdemeanors in the general offenses title.

Compared to other cities, Akron takes a harder line on skateboarding rules. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Public Alcohol Use

Akron bars carrying an open container of beer or liquor in public. City Code § 91.07 makes it illegal to possess an opened container in any public place unless bought there for on-site drinking, or in a vehicle on any street or lot open to public travel, whether the car is moving or parked.

Key details: Governing section: City Code § 91.07. Applies to: Public places and vehicles. Exception: Alcohol sold for on-site use. Offense class: Misdemeanor, 4th degree. State authority: R.C. § 4301.62.

Under § 91.99(D), a violation of § 91.07 is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree, one of the more serious classes in the alcohol chapter (only §§ 91.02 and 91.13, first-degree misdemeanors, carry a stiffer classification). The case is prosecuted in Akron Municipal Court and can result in fines and, unlike a minor misdemeanor, a jail term for a fourth-degree offense.

The Bottom Line

Akron is tougher than many cities when it comes to public conduct. Out of the 5 rules covered here, 3 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Akron, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

These rules come from Akron's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.