Palm Coast, FL Public Conduct: Aggressive Panhandling (2026)

Sec. 35-101 states the ordinance exists to protect against "physical injury and traffic disruption" when people stand on or along public streets trying to engage vehicle occupants for employment, business or contributions, and to protect residents "against crime and undue annoyance" and abusive solicitor behavior. Sec. 35-104, added when the City repealed its old solicitor-licensing scheme for roadway solicitation in 2009, makes it "unlawful for any person to be upon or go upon any public street for the purpose of seeking or giving employment, business, or contributions of any kind from or to the occupant of any vehicle," an outright ban rather than a permit system.

Sec. 35-103 layers on seven specific unlawful acts for any solicitation City-wide: obstructing a street, road, sidewalk, alley or driveway; threatening or harassing any person while soliciting; soliciting within 300 feet of a school bus stop; soliciting at or within 12 feet of an ATM or similar cash-dispensing device; impeding pedestrian or vehicular traffic; using mechanical or amplified noise; and providing any service without the recipient's agreement. "Public street" is defined in Sec. 35-102 to include medians and shoulders of publicly owned roads. Sec. 35-107 sets enforcement: violations are punished to the maximum extent state law allows, including a code enforcement action under Florida Statutes Chapter 162, with the City Manager or designee choosing whether the City's Code Enforcement Board or its Hearing Officer hears the case.