Public Conduct in Garland, TX

If you live in Garland or are thinking about moving there, public conduct are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Garland has 3 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of public conduct, and some of them might surprise you.

Loitering Rules

Garland makes it unlawful for a registered sex offender to loiter within, or within 500 feet of, a park, school, playground or other place where children gather whenever a minor is present, under §26.31. Six affirmative defenses cover offenders who already live nearby, are a present child's parent, or merely drove through.

Key details: Covered persons: Registered sex offenders (Ch. 62, Tex. CCP). Buffer distance: 500 feet around prohibited areas. Prohibited areas: Parks, schools, playgrounds, day cares. Defenses: Six listed in §26.31(B). Enforcement: Police can order offenders to leave.

Loitering within a prohibited area, or within 500 feet of one, while a minor is present is an offense under §26.31(A) unless an affirmative defense in §26.31(B) or §26.35 applies; enforcement runs through the Garland Police Department using the state Sex Offender Database to identify covered persons and prohibited-area boundaries.

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

Skateboarding Rules

Garland bans skateboarding, skating, and rollerblading on City Hall grounds and several other downtown civic properties. Code of Ordinances § 33.76(D) names City Hall, 5th Street Crossing, the Duckworth Building, the Garland Utility Payment Drive-Thru, and the Granville Arts Center, covering their parking facilities, ramps, loading docks, and other protrusions.

Key details: Banned activity: Skating, skateboarding, rollerblading. Banned properties: City Hall, 5th Street Crossing, Duckworth Bldg, Drive-Thru, Granville Arts Center. Governing section: Code of Ordinances § 33.76(D). Maximum fine: $500 under general penalty § 10.05. Scope: Applies to named premises, not citywide.

Skating, skateboarding, or rollerblading on the banned City Hall-area properties is a Code violation. Because § 33.76(D) does not set its own penalty, it falls under the general Code penalty in § 10.05: a fine of up to $500 for an offense, with repeated conduct subject to additional citations.

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

Outdoor Smoking Restrictions

Garland extends its smoking ban outdoors in three spots: within 50 feet of any playground or recreation area inside a city park, along the perimeter sidewalk ringing the downtown city square, and inside any area the City Manager posts with a designated no-smoking sign. The rule sits in the same Article IV ordinance that bans smoking indoors citywide.

Key details: Park buffer: 50 feet from playground/recreation areas. Downtown zone: Perimeter sidewalk around city square. Designated areas: City Manager posts no-smoking signage. Covers vaping: E-cigarettes included in "smoking" definition. Golf course exempt: Uncovered areas 25+ ft from buildings.

Smoking article violations are prosecuted under the Code's general penalty, Section 10.05, which fines public-health and sanitation violations up to $2,000 per offense (other Code violations cap at $500), and treats each day the violation continues as a separate offense. There is no dedicated smoking-article penalty section; Section 10.05 applies by default because Chapter 22 is the Health chapter.

The Bottom Line

Garland is tougher than many cities when it comes to public conduct. Out of the 3 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Garland, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

Keep in mind that Garland can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.