New Hanover County, NC Public Conduct: Aggressive Panhandling (2026)

Sec. 38-111 defines soliciting, begging or asking as requesting an immediate donation of money or anything of value by any means of communication, spoken, written or printed, regardless of the solicitor's purpose. 'Aggressive manner' is defined through six specific behaviors: intentionally or recklessly touching the person solicited without consent; following them in a way likely to cause fear of imminent bodily harm or intimidate them into giving; continuing to solicit within five feet after a negative response under those same fear-inducing circumstances; intentionally or recklessly blocking safe passage or forcing evasive action; using obscene or abusive language or gestures meant to intimidate; or approaching in a manner likely to cause fear or intimidate a person into responding.

Beyond aggressive manner itself, subsection (b) separately bans soliciting, begging, or offering goods or services within 15 feet of any bank or financial institution entrance or exit, or within 15 feet of any ATM without the facility owner's consent (measured from the ATM facility's own entrance where the machine sits inside one); on private property once the owner, tenant or lawful occupant has told the person not to solicit there or has posted a no-soliciting sign; and from any operator or passenger of a vehicle on a public street or road or its right-of-way, except for emergency repairs the occupants themselves requested. The county adopted the core ban by ordinance on January 20, 2009, with a further amendment October 1, 2012.