Augusta-Richmond County, GA Homelessness & Encampment Rules: Sit-Lie Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Code § 3-7-31
- Max fine
- $1,000
- Max jail time
- 60 days
- Enforcement
- Richmond County Sheriff's Department
- Scope
- Countywide, except Blythe and Hephzibah
Summary
Augusta-Richmond County bans loitering on streets, sidewalks, or crossings that blocks free passage, requiring people to move on when told by a sheriff's deputy or a nearby resident or business owner.
Any person who shall loiter on any street, sidewalk or crossing in such a manner as to be an obstruction to free passage thereon, and who shall fail to promptly move on when notified to do so by any officer of the Sheriff's Department, or by any citizen in front of, or near, whose residence of place of business such loitering is carried on, shall be punished as provided herein.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Recodification).
Full Breakdown
Section 3-7-31 of the Augusta-Richmond County Code prohibits loitering on any street, sidewalk, or crossing in a way that obstructs free passage. Anyone who blocks the path and refuses to move on after being told to by a Richmond County Sheriff's deputy, or by a citizen near whose home or business the loitering occurs, is subject to prosecution. Violations fall under the Chapter 7 general penalty: a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 fine and up to 60 days in the Augusta-Richmond County jail. The ordinance applies countywide under the consolidated government, though Blythe and Hephzibah enforce their own municipal codes.
Violations & Fines
Violating the sidewalk obstruction ban is a misdemeanor: a fine up to $1,000 and/or up to 60 days in the Augusta-Richmond County jail, enforced by the Sheriff's Department.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I be cited for sitting on a sidewalk in Augusta?
Does this ordinance cover Blythe and Hephzibah?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Augusta-Richmond County
Compare Augusta-Richmond County to another location·View the Georgia homelessness & encampment rules overview
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