Montgomery County, MD Public Conduct: Aggressive Panhandling (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- County Code § 32-19B
- Covers
- Any place open to the public
- Includes
- Buses and transit vehicles
- Penalty class
- Class B violation
Summary
Montgomery County bans aggressive panhandling, soliciting money or sales in an intimidating manner, in any place open to the public, including buses and transit vehicles.
Aggressive panhandling means asking for an immediate donation of money or any other thing of value, or attempting to sell any item or service, in an intimidating manner. Intimidating manner means behavior that makes a reasonable person fear harm to his or her person or property... A person must not engage in aggressive panhandling in any place open to the general public for business or other purposes, including any public transportation vehicle. Any violation of this Section is a class B violation.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-90: Montgomery County Code contains legislation effective through May 7, 2026 | Zoning Updated Effective: April 13, 2026 | COMCOR Regulations effective as of July 1, 2026).
Full Breakdown
County Code § 32-19B makes it illegal to ask for money, a donation, or to sell an item or service in an "intimidating manner" anywhere open to the public for business or other purposes, including public transportation vehicles. Intimidating manner is defined to include touching the person solicited without consent, continuing to solicit or follow someone after a negative response, directing threatening language at them, or blocking their safe passage. It supplements the separate disorderly-conduct and harassment sections (§§ 32-14, 32-19A) that already cover blocking sidewalks or persistent unwanted following.
Violations & Fines
Violation is a Class B violation, punishable under County Code § 1-19; officers may cite panhandlers who touch, follow, threaten, or block a person while soliciting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is all panhandling illegal in Montgomery County?
Does the ban apply on Ride On buses?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Montgomery County
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