Charlotte County, FL Public Conduct: Aggressive Panhandling (2026)

Charlotte County regulates panhandling through two linked sections. Sec. 2-5-2, adopted by Ord. No. 2010-028 in 2010, defines 'aggressively beg' as begging with intent to intimidate, and makes it a violation to aggressively beg in any public place, including sidewalks, parking lots, streets and building entrances, while also touching the person solicited without consent, following them after a negative response, obstructing pedestrian or vehicular traffic without lawful purpose, directing profane or abusive language at them, or acting in a violent or threatening manner. The section exempts constitutionally protected assembly and speech and activity under a county-issued permit or lease, and requires a law enforcement officer, absent flight or other impracticality, to give the person a chance to explain their conduct before arrest.

Separately, Sec. 2-4-42 bars beggars, panhandlers and solicitors from approaching any driver or vehicle occupant while the vehicle is on the traveled portion of a roadway, bars drivers from offering money or goods to a roadway solicitor, and bars standing on a traffic median to beg or solicit. , only for participants over 18 wearing high-visibility vests who enter the road on a red light and exit on green, and only after a written safety plan, indemnification forms and a ten-business-day advance application are on file with the ordinance administrator.