Fayetteville, NC Public Conduct: Aggressive Panhandling (2026)

Section 17-1 defines 'accosting' as approaching someone in a manner that would make a reasonable person fear imminent bodily harm, and 'forcing oneself upon the company of another' as continuing to solicit after a negative response, blocking someone's path, or otherwise compelling a person to give. Beyond that core prohibition, the ordinance bans begging, soliciting, or panhandling in a long list of specific settings: on any public transportation vehicle or within 50 feet of a transit stop; within 50 feet of a bank, financial institution, or ATM; on private property once the owner or occupant has asked the person to stop or posted a no-soliciting sign; from a vehicle occupant while standing in a street, shoulder, or median; in a manner that impedes pedestrians; anywhere in the core downtown area defined in Section 24-132, unless the solicitor holds a city business license or festival permit; in any city-owned park; within 50 feet of an active outdoor dining or merchandise area; toward anyone waiting in line to enter a business; and at any time after dark, defined as half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise. 'After Dark' times are set by sunset and sunrise listings published in The Fayetteville Observer. S. 160A-179, the state law letting cities regulate begging.