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Fond du Lac County, WI Public Conduct: Loitering Rules (2026)

Some Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Rule: Presence allowed only for recreational activities
Facilities covered: All county parks, trails, boat launches
Related ban: Peddling/soliciting also prohibited (§ 42-5(6))
Penalty: $10 to $500 forfeiture plus costs
Enforced by: Any law enforcement officer

Summary

Every county park, trail, and boat launch stays open to the public for recreation year-round, but Code § 42-5(2) bars loitering or being present unless you're actually engaged in a recreational activity. Idling in a lot or hanging around without recreating is a citable common-use violation.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Fond du Lac County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

(2)All facilities shall be open to the public throughout the year for recreational purposes. No person shall loiter or otherwise park or be present upon a facility unless the person is engaged in recreational activities.

View official code

Full Breakdown

" "Facility" under § 42-3 covers every park, boat launching facility, recreational trail, conservation area, educational and historical site, and public snowmobile trail the Land Information Department administers, from Columbia Park to Veterans Memorial Park to the Eisenbahn and Old Plank Road trails. The rule targets presence without purpose: someone parked in a boat-launch lot without launching a boat, or sitting on trailhead property without hiking, biking, or otherwise recreating, falls outside the activities the section protects. It sits alongside the separate ban on peddling, soliciting, distributing handbills, or posting signs at § 42-5(6), and the overnight curfew at § 42-5(1), so a person technically inside open hours can still be cited for loitering if they aren't recreating. The department and the UW-Extension Education, Agriculture, and Recreation Committee retain discretion over what counts as recreational use of each specific facility.

Violations & Fines

Loitering at a county facility is enforced the same way as every other Chapter 42 common-use violation: under § 42-14(b), any law enforcement officer may cite or arrest the offender, and the offense is subject to § 1-8's forfeiture of $10.00 to $500.00 plus prosecution costs. The officer has standing authority to enter facility buildings and grounds to investigate the disturbance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I just hang out at a Fond du Lac County boat launch without launching a boat?

Not under § 42-5(2). The section requires that anyone present at a facility, including boat launches, actually be engaged in a recreational activity. Sitting in the lot without fishing, boating, or otherwise recreating can be cited as loitering even during normal open hours.

Is panhandling or selling things allowed in county parks?

No. A neighboring subsection, § 42-5(6), separately makes it unlawful to peddle, solicit business, distribute handbills, or post signs at any facility without the Land Information Department's authorization, on top of the general loitering ban in § 42-5(2).

What's the penalty for loitering in a county park?

Loitering is enforced under § 42-14(b), which applies the county's general penalty in § 1-8: a forfeiture between $10.00 and $500.00 plus the costs of prosecution, issued by citation from any law enforcement officer.

Sources & Official References

[1]Fond du Lac County Code of Ordinances (Municode)

Other rules in Fond du Lac County

Parking Rules: Street Parking LimitsSome Restrictions Public Marijuana UseHeavy Restrictions Skateboarding RulesHeavy Restrictions Noise Ordinances: Vehicle NoiseSome Restrictions Noise Ordinances: Barking DogsLight Restrictions Parking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesSome Restrictions Fence Regulations: Neighbor Fence RulesLight Restrictions Fence Regulations: Retaining WallsHeavy Restrictions

All Fond du Lac County rules

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