Grand Forks, ND Public Conduct: Loitering Rules (2026)

The Grand Forks disorderly-conduct statute, section 9-0107, folds its loitering and obstruction rules into the same list of prohibited acts rather than giving loitering its own article. Subsection (5) makes it disorderly conduct to obstruct vehicular or pedestrian traffic, or the use of a public facility, and subsection (7) specifically targets a person who, while loitering in a public place for the purpose of soliciting sexual contact, actually solicits such contact. Both provisions require the intent element in the section's opening clause: the person must act to harass, annoy or alarm someone, or act in reckless disregard that someone nearby is being harassed, annoyed or alarmed.

A related but narrower loitering rule appears in section 9-0124, the window-peeping statute, which separately bans loitering in a position that affords a view into someone else's window or doorway with intent to annoy, harass or alarm. Grand Forks has no general vagrancy or catch-all loitering ordinance outside these specific, intent-based provisions; a person cannot be cited simply for standing or waiting in a public place without one of the aggravating purposes the code lists. The Grand Forks Police Department enforces section 9-0107 as a criminal charge in municipal court, not through a civil citation or fee schedule.