Charleston, SC Public Conduct: Aggressive Panhandling (2026)

Sec. 17-101 is a one-sentence prohibition, 'No person shall solicit in an aggressive manner on the public rights-of-way or other publically owned property,' but Sec. ' It covers: approaching, speaking to, or following someone before, during or after soliciting in a way intended or likely to make a reasonable person fear bodily harm, property damage, or feel intimidated into giving money; intentionally touching a person or an occupied vehicle without consent while soliciting; intentionally blocking or interfering with a pedestrian's or vehicle's safe passage, including forcing evasive action; using violent or threatening gestures; persisting after the target has said no; and using profane, offensive or abusive language likely to intimidate.

'Soliciting' under Sec. 17-92 is defined broadly to include panhandling, peddling, charitable soliciting, busking, and selling palmetto art products, so the aggressive-manner ban reaches all of those activities, not panhandling alone. The prohibition applies citywide on public rights-of-way and publicly owned property, unlike the article's district-based restrictions in Sec. 17-102, which only bar ordinary, non-aggressive soliciting in specific tourist districts like the Market District and King Street District.