Public Conduct in Raleigh, NC (2026)
8 verified public conduct rules for Raleigh, North Carolina, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Aggressive Panhandling
Raleigh bans begging or panhandling outright between sunset and sunrise (never before 8 a.m. or after 8 p.m.), near school zones during arrival/dismissal, and within set distances of bus stops, ATMs, banks, businesses, outdoor dining, and homes. It also bans specific manners of soliciting: approaching within three feet, following a refusal, or panhandling in groups of three or more.
Raleigh Panhandling Location and Manner Rules
Significant RestrictionsRaleigh City Code § 13-2031(c)
(c)Where and when prohibited. All begging and panhandling is prohibited at the following locations and times: a.No person shall beg or panhandle between the hours of sunset and sunrise, but in no event earlier than 8:00 a.m. or later than 8:00 p.m. No person shall beg or panhandle in a school zone while students are beginning or ending the school day.b.No person shall beg or panhandle in the fo...
Public Urination
Raleigh bans urinating or defecating on any City right-of-way, street, sidewalk, park, or building, and bans doing so outdoors anywhere in public view, on any property, public or private, unless it goes into an approved toilet facility. Sec. 13-3013 makes this a misdemeanor, enforceable by criminal charge, civil penalty, or an injunction.
Raleigh Public Urination and Defecation Ban
Significant RestrictionsRaleigh City Code § 13-3013
Sec. 13-3013. - URINATING OR DEFECATING ON CITY PROPERTY OR IN PUBLIC VIEW. It shall be unlawful for any person to urinate or defecate on any City right-of-way, street, sidewalk, park, or other City building or facility or to urinate or defecate outdoors in view of the public on any property unless such urination or defecation is into an approved toilet facility provided for that purpose. Viola...
Skateboarding Rules
Raleigh outright bans skateboarding, roller skating and similar wheeled toys on its downtown Pedestrian Malls under City Code § 9-7025: the areas defined in § 9-7002 as City Plaza, Exchange Plaza, Market Plaza and Martin Street Plaza. Violating the ban is a misdemeanor and can also draw a civil penalty.
Raleigh Bans Skateboards on Fayetteville Mall
Heavy RestrictionsRaleigh City Code § 9-7025
Sec. 9-7025. - ROLLER SKATES. No person shall roller skate, ride on a skateboard or operate any similar device or toy having wheels or rollers on the mall. Violation of this section is a misdemeanor and may also be enforced through issuance of a civil penalty pursuant to §14-1005, through injunctive or other equitable relief, or a combination of remedies.
Loud Party Ordinance
Raleigh's nuisance-party ordinance makes hosts legally responsible when a gathering they control turns into unlawful drinking, disruptive conduct, excessive noise, property damage, or public disturbances. Sec. 13-3017 lets the City fine a first-time host $100, escalating to $300 for a repeat violation within 12 months, on top of possible misdemeanor charges.
Raleigh Nuisance Party Ordinance and Host Liability
Some RestrictionsRaleigh City Code § 13-3017(a), (b), (d)
(a)Definition. A nuisance party is a party or other social gathering conducted in the City and which, by reason of the conduct of those persons in attendance, results in any one (1) or more of the following conditions or occurrences: unlawful public possession or consumption of alcohol, unlawful drunken and disruptive conduct; public urination or defecation; ... excessive, unnecessary or unusua...
Loitering Rules
City Code § 11-2154 makes it unlawful to stand, sit or loiter in any Raleigh street right-of-way, including medians, in a way that impedes traffic. Narrow or high-crash medians get a stricter rule under § 11-2155, where standing there for anything but crossing is a misdemeanor.
Raleigh Bans Loitering in Street Rights-of-Way
Significant RestrictionsRaleigh City Code §§ 11-2154, 11-2155
Sec. 11-2154. Approaching motor vehicles. No person shall stand, sit, or loiter in the right-of-way of any streets in the City, including on any median or median strip in a manner that impedes the normal movement of traffic... Sec. 11-2155. High-incident risk intersections. No person shall stand, sit, lie, or loiter on a median or median strip of a street for any purpose other than crossing the...
Outdoor Smoking Restrictions
Raleigh bans smoking in all City parks and greenways and their associated structures, with one carve-out: smoking is allowed in parking areas specifically delineated within those parks and greenways. Violating the citywide smoking ordinance is an infraction under Sec. 13-3016, punishable by a penalty of up to $50.
Raleigh Smoking Ban in Parks and Greenways
Some RestrictionsRaleigh City Code § 13-3016(b)(1)(j), (k), (m)
j.All City parks and greenways and structures associated with parks and greenways except that smoking shall be permitted in all parks and greenway areas specifically delineated as automobile parking areas.k.Within twenty-five (25) feet of any boarding platform or area at a transit facility. A transit facility includes but is not limited to Moore Square Station and other bus stops on public or p...
Jaywalking
Raleigh bans street crossing at any point a posted sign, barricade or notice marks off-limits under City Code § 11-2152. The prohibited spots are set citywide in official Traffic Schedule No. 12, so enforcement follows the posted signage rather than a blanket mid-block crossing ban.
Raleigh Jaywalking: Crossing Where Signs Prohibit It
Some RestrictionsRaleigh City Code § 11-2152
It shall be unlawful for any person to cross a street, on foot or by any other means, at a point and in a manner prohibited by this section and where a sign, barricade or other notice indicates that such crossing is prohibited. Locations where pedestrian crossing is so prohibited shall be as designated in Traffic Schedule No. 12, "Pedestrian Crossing Prohibited."
Public Alcohol Use
Raleigh City Code § 12-4001 makes it unlawful to consume malt beverages or unfortified wine as a pedestrian on any city street, or to possess an open container of either on property owned, occupied, or controlled by the city. An open container is defined as one whose seal is broken or that isn't the manufacturer's original sealed container, and the rule doesn't apply inside a designated social district during its hours of operation.
Raleigh Bans Open Alcohol Containers on City Property
Some RestrictionsRaleigh City Code § 12-4001
Except as provided by this chapter, it shall be unlawful for any pedestrian to consume malt beverages or unfortified wine on any City street and it shall be unlawful for any person to possess an open container of malt beverages or unfortified wine on any property owned, occupied, or controlled by the City. It shall also be unlawful to possess malt beverages and unfortified wine on any street, a...
Looking for Wake County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Raleigh city rules.
Public Conduct in Wake County →