Public Conduct in Gulfport, MS (2026)
6 verified public conduct rules for Gulfport, Mississippi, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Aggressive Panhandling
Gulfport bans all begging on public streets and sidewalks, not just aggressive solicitation. Sec. 7-3 makes it unlawful for anyone 'known as a beggar or mendicant' to solicit alms or aid, directly or indirectly, anywhere on the city's streets or sidewalks, backed by the Code's general penalty of up to a $1,000 fine or 90 days in jail.
Gulfport Street Begging Ban
Heavy RestrictionsGulfport Code of Ordinances § 7-3
It shall be unlawful for any person known as a beggar or mendicant to solicit alms or aid, either directly or indirectly, upon any of the streets or sidewalks within the city.
Skateboarding Rules
Gulfport treats skateboards the same as roller skates and coasters under Code section 6-40: none of them may go upon a roadway. The only exception is crossing at a marked crosswalk, where the rider gets pedestrian rights and duties. A city-designated play street is exempt, but none currently exists.
Gulfport Skateboard and Coaster Roadway Ban
Some RestrictionsGulfport Code of Ordinances § 6-40
No person upon roller skates, or riding in or by means of any coaster, toy vehicle, or similar device, shall go upon any roadway except while crossing a street on a crosswalk and when so crossing such person shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to pedestrians. This section shall not apply upon any street while set aside as a play street as auth...
Loitering Rules
Gulfport has no general loitering ordinance for its sidewalks or parks: the code's only loitering ban, section 6-420, is confined to the yards and side tracks of the railroad running through the city, part of the same 1963-era article that regulates train whistles, crossing lights and jumping on rail cars.
Gulfport Railroad Yard Loitering Ban
Some RestrictionsGulfport Code of Ordinances § 6-420
Sec. 6-420. - Playing, loitering around yards or side tracks. It shall be unlawful for any person to play or loiter around the yards or side tracks of the railroad.
Outdoor Smoking Restrictions
Gulfport bans smoking within 20 feet of building entrances and ventilation intakes, in most outdoor restaurant seating, in city parks and other city-owned outdoor facilities, and on all school and childcare grounds, with fines up to $500 for repeat violators.
Gulfport Outdoor Public Smoking Ban
Significant RestrictionsGulfport Code of Ordinances § 7-189
Smoking is prohibited from the following outdoor areas or public places within the city and it shall be unlawful for any person to smoke in any such area or place: (a)Within twenty (20) feet of outside entrances and exits... ... (e)All public outdoor properties and facilities controlled or leased by the city, including, but not limited to, all parks, sports fields, tennis courts, walkways or tr...
Jaywalking
Gulfport Code § 6-236 bans jaywalking outright downtown and on any signalized block between intersections: pedestrians there must use a marked crosswalk. The city council can extend the same crosswalk-only rule to any other street by simple resolution, and violations are misdemeanors enforced downtown.
Gulfport Jaywalking and Crosswalk Rules
Some RestrictionsGulfport Code of Ordinances § 6-236
(a)Between adjacent intersections at which traffic-control signals are in operation, pedestrians shall not cross at any place except in a crosswalk.(b)No pedestrian shall cross a roadway other than in a crosswalk in the central business district.(c)No pedestrian shall cross a roadway other than in a crosswalk upon any street so designated by order or resolution of the mayor and city council.
Public Alcohol Use
Gulfport lets patrons carry an open drink outside licensed bars inside two designated Leisure and Recreation Districts, Bayou Bernard and Downtown North. Outside those boundaries, removing an open container from a licensed premises stays illegal.
Gulfport Social District Open Container Rule
Light RestrictionsGulfport Code of Ordinances § 5-229
Outside consumption of alcoholic beverages permitted; conditions. Any on premise retail alcoholic beverage permittee (hereinafter, "permittee") located within the districts shall comply with all laws, rules and regulations which govern its license type, except that a patron, guest or member of that licensee may remove an open container of alcoholic beverage and/or wine from the licensed premise...
Looking for Harrison County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Gulfport city rules.
Public Conduct in Harrison County →