Portland, ME Public Conduct: Aggressive Panhandling (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Sec. 17-2, enacted Ord. 151-97
- Fine range
- $25.00–$150.00 per offense, Sec. 17-2(c)
- Prohibited acts
- blocking, following, threats, abuse, touching
- Passive signs exempt
- Sec. 17-2(b)(1)
- Extra remedy
- court injunction against repeat violators
Summary
Portland doesn't ban panhandling outright, but Sec. 17-2 makes 'abusive solicitation' a violation: blocking or following someone who declined to give money, touching them without consent, or threatening or verbally abusing them while asking for a donation. Convicted violators face a fine of $25 to $150 per offense, and the city can also seek a court injunction.
(3) "Abusive solicitation" means to do one or more of the following while engaging in solicitation or immediately thereafter: a. Blocking or impeding the passage of the person solicited; b. Following the person solicited by proceeding behind, ahead or alongside of him or her after the person solicited declines to make a donation; c. Threatening the person solicited with physical harm by word or gesture; d. Abusing the person solicited with words which are offensive and inherently likely to provoke an immediate violent reaction; e. Touching the solicited person without the solicited person's consent. (c) Penalties. Any person who engages in abusive solicitation as defined herein shall be guilty of a violation of this article and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) nor more than one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) for each offense.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 17, Sec. 17-2 replaced Portland's earlier panhandling ban with a narrower ordinance aimed only at aggressive tactics, stating in subsection (a) that its purpose is to limit abusive solicitation while respecting the constitutional right to free speech. Subsection (b)(1) defines 'solicitation' as any in-person request for an immediate donation of money or item of value, expressly excluding a person who passively displays a sign or otherwise indicates they seek donations without addressing a specific person. Subsection (b)(3) then lists five acts that turn ordinary solicitation into 'abusive solicitation' if done while soliciting or immediately after: blocking or impeding the passage of the person solicited; following them after they decline to donate; threatening them with physical harm by word or gesture; abusing them with words offensive and inherently likely to provoke a violent reaction; or touching them without consent.
Sec. 00 per offense, and separately authorizes the city to seek, and the court to order, injunctive relief to prevent further violations. The ordinance was enacted by Ord. No. 151-97 on December 1, 1997, which repealed the prior Sec. 17-2 panhandling ban outright rather than amend it.
Violations & Fines
A single act of blocking, following, threatening, verbally abusing or touching someone while soliciting a donation is a violation of Sec. 17-2(c), punishable by a fine of $25.00 to $150.00 per offense. The city may also ask a court for an injunction ordering a repeat violator to stop, independent of the fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal to ask for money on the street in Portland, Maine?
What makes panhandling 'abusive' under Portland's ordinance?
What's the penalty for abusive solicitation in Portland?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Portland
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