Detroit, MI Public Conduct: Loitering Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Trigger
- Police move-on order first
- Covered areas
- Streets, sidewalks, overpasses, public places
- Max penalty
- $500 fine or 90 days jail
- Case law
- Upheld in Detroit v. Wedlow (1969)
Summary
Detroit police can order anyone loitering on a street, sidewalk, overpass, or public place to move on, and it's unlawful to stay and obstruct pedestrian or vehicle traffic after being told to leave.
After having been told to move on by a police officer, it shall be unlawful for any person to loiter on any street, sidewalk, overpass, or public place. For the purpose of this section, the term "loitering" is defined as the act of standing or being idle in or about any street, sidewalk, overpass, or public place so as to hinder or impede, or tend to hinder or impede, or obstruct the passage of pedestrians or vehicles.
(Code 1964, § 58-1-10; Code 1984, § 38-1-3; Ord. No. 337-H, § 1(58-1-10), eff. 7-31-1979)
Case law annotation—Former Code section upheld as against attack on overbreadth as a legitimate police power exercise. Detroit v Wedlow, 17 Mich App 134; 169 NW2d 145 (1969).
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 4).
Full Breakdown
Detroit City Code § 31-5-7 makes it unlawful to loiter on any street, sidewalk, overpass, or public place after a police officer has told the person to move on. The Code defines loitering as standing or being idle in a way that hinders, impedes, or tends to hinder or impede the passage of pedestrians or vehicles. The provision survived a Michigan Court of Appeals overbreadth challenge in Detroit v. Wedlow, 17 Mich App 134 (1969), and is cross-referenced by Detroit's park, parking-lot, and cabaret ordinances that separately bar loitering on those premises.
Violations & Fines
No move-on warning, no violation. After the warning, continued obstructive loitering can bring a fine up to $500, up to 90 days in jail, or both, under Detroit's general penalty section § 1-1-9.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I be cited for just standing on a Detroit sidewalk?
What is the penalty for loitering in Detroit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Detroit
Compare Detroit to another location·View the Michigan public conduct overview
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Loitering Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Wayne County handle loitering rules.