Fort Worth, TX Public Conduct: Loitering Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Citation
- § 23-11
- Max fine
- $500
- Prior-conviction lookback
- 1 year
- Pre-arrest step
- Officer must offer chance to explain
- General loitering ordinance
- None exists in Fort Worth code
- Adopted
- Ord. 7657 (1977); amended Ord. 10389 (1989)
Summary
Fort Worth does not have a general anti-loitering ordinance; its only standing loitering law targets solicitation for prostitution. Section 23-11 makes it an offense to loiter in a public place under circumstances that manifest an intent to induce, entice or procure another to commit prostitution, punishable by a fine of up to $500.
(a) A person commits an offense if he or she loiters in a public place in a manner and under circumstances manifesting the purpose of inducing, enticing, soliciting or procuring another to commit an act of prostitution. Among the circumstances which may be considered in determining whether such purpose is manifested is that such person is a known prostitute or panderer, repeatedly beckons to, stops or attempts to stop motor vehicle operators by hailing, waving of arms or any other bodily gesture. No arrest shall be made for a violation of this subsection (a) unless the arresting officer first affords such person an opportunity to explain such conduct, and no one shall be convicted of violating this section if it appears at trial that the explanation given was true and disclosed a lawful purpose.
Full Breakdown
Section 23-11 defines the offense narrowly around purpose, not mere presence. A person commits the offense only if the circumstances manifest an intent to solicit prostitution; the code lists repeatedly beckoning to, stopping, or attempting to stop vehicle operators by hailing or waving as conduct that can support the charge, along with being a known prostitute or panderer. A KNOWN PROSTITUTE OR PANDERER is defined narrowly as someone convicted of prostitution, promotion of prostitution, aggravated promotion, or compelling prostitution within the one year before the arrest, to the arresting officer's actual knowledge.
The ordinance also builds in a procedural safeguard: no arrest can be made unless the officer first gives the person a chance to explain the conduct, and no conviction stands if the explanation offered at trial turns out to be true and shows a lawful purpose. Fort Worth's general code has no counterpart provision banning loitering, vagrancy or obstructing sidewalks as such; the former sexually-oriented-business offenses once located nearby in § 23-18 were consolidated into the zoning ordinance's Appendix A, Chapter 5 in 2004 and are unrelated to this section.
Anyone asking about a broader no-loitering rule in Fort Worth will not find one in the general code; § 23-11 is limited to the prostitution-solicitation context.
Violations & Fines
Violating § 23-11 is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $500. Before an officer can arrest anyone under the section, the person must first be given an opportunity to explain the conduct, and a conviction cannot stand if that explanation is shown at trial to be true and to disclose a lawful purpose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal to just stand around on a Fort Worth sidewalk?
What has to happen before police can arrest someone under § 23-11?
What conduct counts as evidence of loitering for prostitution?
What is the penalty for a § 23-11 conviction?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fort Worth
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Fort Worth to another location·View the Texas public conduct overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.