Aiken County, SC Public Conduct: Loitering Rules (2026)

Section 16-6, 'Loitering and similar conduct at parks,' lists four categories of unlawful conduct at any Aiken County park or recreation center. The first targets loitering itself: it is unlawful to loiter in a manner that creates or causes a disturbance, a danger of breach of the peace, or a risk of injury, damage or harm to other people, the public, or the park or recreation center. The section defines 'loitering' for this purpose as remaining idly in or around the park or recreation center, or loafing, walking or wandering around aimlessly there, a definition broad enough to cover a person who is not otherwise breaking any rule but whose aimless presence itself creates the disturbance or danger the ordinance targets.

The remaining three clauses of subsection (a) prohibit prostitution or soliciting prostitution, unlawfully possessing or using illegal drugs or drug paraphernalia (including pipes, wrappers and hypodermic needles), and acting in a disorderly manner, defined to include boisterous, abusive, threatening, indecent or violent conduct. All four prohibitions were added together by Ordinance No. 17-08-32 on August 15, 2017, the same ordinance that added the Section 16-5 park-hours rule, showing the county adopted its modern park-conduct and access framework as a single package.