Birmingham, AL Public Conduct: Aggressive Panhandling (2026)

City Code Chapter 14, Article B bars a long list of specific begging conduct rather than begging itself. Sec. 12-14-11 makes it unlawful to beg, ask, or solicit alms or financial assistance in an aggressive manner anywhere in the city, on private property without the owner's written consent, in a public transit vehicle or at a bus or train stop, within 30 feet of a public restroom, ATM, night bank deposit box, pay phone, licensed street vendor, vending machine, or the entrance or exit to any business, from a driver or occupant of a vehicle in traffic, from a driver in exchange for directing them to parking or for washing their windows or car, using profane or abusive language, begging as part of a group of two or more, or by any statement, gesture, or contact that would put a reasonable person in fear of injury.

Sec. 12-14-15 defines 'aggressive manner' to include approaching, speaking to, or following someone so as to cause a reasonable fear of bodily harm, touching another person while asking for alms, continuing to ask after a negative response, or intentionally blocking or interfering with someone's safe passage. Sec. 12-14-13 separately bars begging after sunset or before sunrise, and Sec. 12-14-14 makes it unlawful to solicit using false claims, such as falsely claiming to be homeless, disabled, stranded out-of-towners, or a veteran. Sec. 12-14-16 carves out an exclusion: a person who passively sits or stands with a sign seeking donations, without addressing anyone directly except in response to a question, is not 'begging' under most of the article, though that exclusion does not cover soliciting on private property, near an ATM or business entrance, from drivers, in a group, or after dark.