San Benito County, CA Public Conduct: Loitering Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Prohibits
- loitering at entrances
- Covers
- churches, halls, theaters, parks
- Scope
- unincorporated county only
- Adopted
- Ord. 155 (1966 Code)
Summary
Unincorporated San Benito County bars loitering, standing, or sitting at the entrance of a church, hall, theater, park, or public assembly place in a way that blocks the entrance.
No person shall loiter, stand or sit in or at the entrance of, or approach to, any church, hall, theater, park or place of public assemblage so as to in any manner obstruct the entrance or approach.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2025 S-28: current through Ordinance 1078).
Full Breakdown
San Benito County Code § 9.01.005 makes it unlawful to loiter, stand, or sit in or at the entrance of, or approach to, any church, hall, theater, park, or place of public assemblage so as to obstruct the entrance or approach. The rule dates to Ord. 155 under the 1966 Code and sits in the county's general offenses chapter, which governs unincorporated San Benito County; Hollister and San Juan Bautista enforce their own municipal codes for loitering within city limits.
Violations & Fines
A violation is prosecuted as an infraction or misdemeanor under the county's general Title 9 penalty provision (§ 1.01.007), at the citing officer's discretion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this loitering ban apply inside Hollister?
What exactly counts as loitering under this section?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Benito County
California rules heatmap·Compare San Benito County to another location·View the California public conduct overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.