Sacramento County, CA Public Conduct: Aggressive Panhandling (2026)
Key Facts
- Citation
- § 9.81.040, Sacramento County Code
- ATM/bank buffer
- 35 feet from entrance
- Intersection buffer
- 200 feet, vehicle solicitation
- Transit stop buffer
- 50 feet from stop
- Penalty
- Infraction, misdemeanor after third violation
Summary
Sacramento County bans aggressive or intrusive solicitation in public and prohibits all panhandling near ATMs, banks, medians, gas pumps, and transit stops in the unincorporated area.
No person shall solicit in an aggressive or intrusive manner in any public place.
B. All solicitation is prohibited at the following specified locations:
1. Financial Institutions and Automated Teller Machines (ATMs). No person shall solicit within an automated teller machine facility where a reasonable person would or should know that he or she does not have the permission to do so from the owner or other person lawfully in possession of such facility. No person shall solicit within 35 feet of any entrance or exit of any financial institution during its business hours or within 35 feet of any automated teller machine during the time it is available for customers' use. When an automated teller machine is located within an automated teller machine facility, such distance shall be measured from the entrance or exit of the automated teller machine facility. These provisions shall not apply to any unenclosed automated teller machine located within any building, structure or space whose primary purpose or function is unrelated to banking activities, including but not limited to supermarkets, airports and school buildings, provided that such automated teller machine shall be available for use only during the regular hours of operation of the building, structure or space in which such machine is located.
2.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4941150; v18 updated 2026-05-19).
Full Breakdown
County Code Chapter 9.81 bans aggressive or intrusive solicitation anywhere in public and bans all solicitation outright at specific high-risk spots: within 35 feet of a bank or ATM entrance, within 200 feet of a signalized or stop-controlled intersection when soliciting from vehicle occupants, on roadway median strips, within 35 feet of shopping-center driveways, in transit vehicles or within 50 feet of a transit stop, and at gas pumps. A first violation is an infraction; a third violation within six months becomes a misdemeanor.
Violations & Fines
First offense is an infraction; violating § 9.81.040 more than twice within six months is a misdemeanor under § 9.81.060.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is panhandling banned in unincorporated Sacramento County?
What counts as 'aggressive' solicitation under the ordinance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sacramento County
California rules heatmap·Compare Sacramento County to another location·View the California public conduct overview
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