Frederick, MD Public Conduct: Aggressive Panhandling (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- City Code Sec. 15-27.2
- Scope
- Bans panhandling in any public place
- Minimum fine
- $25.00
- Maximum fine
- $500.00
- Maximum jail term
- 90 days
Summary
Frederick outlaws panhandling in any public place citywide, not just aggressive panhandling. The ordinance defines panhandling to include begging that harasses, menaces, intimidates, impedes traffic, or otherwise causes harm.
(a)Panhandling shall mean to accost and beg from persons in a public place and shall include the conduct of begging which harasses, menaces, intimidates, impedes traffic or otherwise causes harm.(b)It shall be unlawful for any person to panhandle in a public place.(c)Any person who violates any of the provisions of this section shall be subject to a fine not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500.00), or by imprisonment not exceeding ninety (90) days, or both, Any such violation shall constitute a separate offense on each successive day continued.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Land Management Code: Supplement 13 | Code of Ordinances: Supplement 112).
Full Breakdown
" Unlike ordinances in many cities that only target aggressive solicitation, Frederick's text makes it unlawful for any person to panhandle in a public place at all, without limiting the ban to the harassing subset of conduct described in the definition. A public place under the companion definition in Section 15-27 includes sidewalks, the immediate area in front of stores, restaurants, and taverns, and public grounds and parks, so the prohibition reaches the areas where panhandling most commonly occurs downtown. The ordinance dates to 1990 and has not been amended since, and predates more recent constitutional litigation nationally over panhandling restrictions, meaning enforcement officers apply the code as written on its face. Anyone charged faces criminal penalties rather than a civil citation, and the misdemeanor classification means a conviction becomes part of a person's criminal record.
Violations & Fines
A panhandling violation is a misdemeanor carrying a fine of not less than $25.00 nor more than $500.00, imprisonment of up to ninety (90) days, or both. Each successive day the violation continues counts as a separate offense, so repeated panhandling on different days can be charged and fined separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Frederick only ban aggressive panhandling?
What is the penalty for panhandling in Frederick?
When was Frederick's panhandling ordinance adopted?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Frederick
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