Fall River, MA Public Conduct: Loitering Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Location
- Copicut Reservoir watershed land
- Banned
- Loitering, parties, alcoholic beverages
- Max fine
- Up to $5,000 per violation
- Adopted
- 2010, Ord. No. 2010-11
Summary
Fall River bans loitering, parties, and alcohol on the City-owned watershed land surrounding Copicut Reservoir, with fines up to $5,000 per violation.
Within the protected City-owned land surrounding the shoreline of the Copicut Reservoir bound by Quanapoag Road, Copicut Road, the Dartmouth Town Boundary Line and the Freetown Town Boundary Line, where public access is allowed (further described as that portion of Parcel C on Exhibit C of the Conservation Restriction and Conservation Easement recorded March 4, 2009 that encompasses the shoreline of Copicut Reservoir), the following activities are prohibited:[1]
(1) Swimming, wading, or entering upon the ice when frozen.
(2) Boating, canoeing, kayaking, or watercraft of any kind, except as authorized by the Watuppa Water Board for purposes of management, operations or research.
(3) Use of lead sinkers.
(4) Use of live bait, except as allowed by state regulations.
(5) Open fires or camping.
(6) Loitering, parties and/or alcoholic beverages.
(7) Urinating or defecating outside.
(8) Bringing of dogs or other animals with 100 feet of the shoreline.
(9)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4739915; v14 updated 2025-12-23; through 12-23-2025).
Full Breakdown
Section 26-42, adopted in 2010, locks down the City-owned watershed land ringing Copicut Reservoir, bounded by Quanapoag Road, Copicut Road, and the Dartmouth and Freetown town lines, where public access is allowed. Among 14 listed prohibitions, item (6) bars loitering, parties, and alcoholic beverages outright, alongside bans on swimming, open fires, and unauthorized boating. This is a reservoir-specific rule, not a general city loitering ordinance; violations can be pursued as noncriminal dispositions or criminal charges carrying fines up to $5,000.
Violations & Fines
Loitering, parties, or alcohol on the Copicut Reservoir watershed land can be enforced as a noncriminal violation or criminal charge, with fines reaching $5,000 per offense under § 26-42(C).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you hang out or drink alcohol near the Copicut Reservoir in Fall River?
What's the penalty for loitering at Copicut Reservoir?
Does this loitering ban apply everywhere in Fall River?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fall River
Compare Fall River to another location·View the Massachusetts public conduct overview
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Loitering Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Bristol County handle loitering rules.