Lee's Summit, MO Public Conduct: Aggressive Panhandling (2026)

Sec. 17-119, adopted by Ordinance No. 10198 in August 2025, separately regulates 'aggressive' and ordinary passive panhandling. Aggressive manner is defined to include threatening approaches, following someone who has walked away or said no, physical contact, continuing to solicit after a negative response, verbal threats, and blocking sidewalks or streets, any of which makes panhandling in a public area unlawful outright. Beyond that, the ordinance layers on location-based bans: no panhandling within 20 feet of an ATM or ATM facility or its building entrance, none within the Downtown Core or any Lee's Summit park (a list running from Arborwalk to Woods Playground), none within 5 feet of a street curb, and none involving drivers or occupants of vehicles in traffic.

Even passive panhandling, sitting quietly with a sign, is barred within 20 feet of office, commercial, bank, or residential entrances and within 20 feet of any outdoor dining area. Panhandling is also barred on private property once an owner or occupant has asked the person to stop or posted a no-soliciting sign, and groups of more than three panhandlers acting together are unlawful. Organized street solicitations (charity fundraising) need a City permit limited to six days and two occasions per calendar year, $1,000,000 in liability coverage, advance signage, and an assigned uniformed officer. All distance measurements are taken in a straight line from the violation to the nearest doorway or ATM, ignoring intervening structures.