Green Bay, WI Public Conduct: Loitering Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Posted-sign prong
- Any place marked "No Loitering"
- Obstruction prong
- Blocks ordinary use of street/sidewalk
- Dispersal prong
- Applies only after refusing an order to move
- General penalty
- $1.00 to $500.00 forfeiture
- Alternative penalty
- Community service under § 26-2
- Citing officials
- Police Chief, Fire Chief, and others
Summary
Green Bay's loitering law, Municipal Code § 26-5, hits three distinct situations: loafing where "No Loitering" is posted, blocking a street or sidewalk's ordinary use, and staying put after a police officer or property authority orders a group to move under circumstances that warrant alarm for safety. A first violation forfeits $1.00 to $500.00 under the chapter's general penalty.
(a)Contrary to sign. No person shall loaf or loiter in a public or private place conspicuously posted "No Loitering."(b)Obstruction of traffic. No person shall loaf or loiter upon a public street, alley, sidewalk, street crossing, bridge, or in any other public place within the City in such a manner as to prevent, interfere with, or obstruct the ordinary free use of such place by persons passing along and over the same.(c)Request to move. No person shall loaf or loiter individually or in groups or crowds in or upon public or private premises in a place, at a time, or in a manner not usual for law-abiding individuals under circumstances that warrant alarm for the safety of persons or property in the vicinity after being requested to move by any police officer or by any person in authority at such place.
Full Breakdown
Section 26-5 has three independent prongs. Subsection (a) bars loafing or loitering in any public or private place conspicuously posted "No Loitering," so a private landowner can trigger the ordinance simply by posting a sign. Subsection (b) targets obstruction: loafing or loitering on a street, alley, sidewalk, street crossing or bridge in a way that prevents, interferes with or obstructs the ordinary free use of that place by people passing through, no sign required. Subsection (c) is the dispersal-order prong: loitering individually or in a group, on public or private premises, at a place, time or in a manner not usual for law-abiding people, under circumstances warranting alarm for the safety of persons or property, becomes a violation only after a police officer or a person in authority at that location has asked the group to move and they don't.
This chapter also authorizes the Chief of Police, Fire Chief, Superintendent of Inspection and Director of Public Works to issue municipal court citations under § 26-1, and a Municipal Court Judge may substitute or add community service to any penalty under § 26-2 and Wis. 09(1b)(b). Loitering is enforced separately from the neighboring "prowling" offense in § 26-4, which covers peering into occupied dwellings at night rather than public obstruction.
Violations & Fines
Section 26-5 carries no penalty of its own, so the chapter's general penalty in § 26-18 applies: a forfeiture of not less than $1.00 nor more than $500.00 for each offense, unless the court substitutes or adds community service under § 26-2. Citations may be issued by the Chief of Police or officers delegated that authority under § 26-1.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I be cited for loitering just for standing somewhere?
Does a private business need to post a sign to enforce loitering rules?
What's the penalty for a loitering violation?
Who can issue a loitering citation in Green Bay?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Green Bay
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Loitering Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Brown County handle loitering rules.