Hanover County, VA Public Conduct: Loitering Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Loitering defined as
- Remaining idle, lingering, 'hanging around'
- Public place includes
- Store fronts, parks, public grounds
- Trigger for charge
- Refusing officer's order to move on
- Penalty
- Class 1 misdemeanor
Summary
Hanover County defines loitering broadly, remaining idle, lingering, or 'hanging around' in one spot, and makes it unlawful when it obstructs a public place. Section 17-5(a) supplies the definition; an officer must order a person to move on before a refusal becomes a class 1 misdemeanor.
(a)For the purposes of this section, "loitering" shall mean remaining idle in essentially one (1) location and shall include the concept of spending time idly; to be dilatory; to linger; to stay; to saunter; to delay; to stand around; and shall also include the colloquial expression "hanging around." ... (c)When any person causes or commits any of the conditions enumerated in subsection (b) above, any law-enforcement officer shall order that person to stop causing or committing such conditions and to move on or disperse. Any person who fails or refuses to obey such order shall be guilty of a violation of this section.
Full Breakdown
' The same subsection defines 'public place' broadly too, covering any place the general public has access and a right to resort to for business, entertainment or other lawful purpose, and specifically extending to the front or immediate area of any store, shop, restaurant or tavern, as well as public grounds, areas and parks. Loitering by itself is not the crime; subsection (b) requires that the loitering also obstruct a public street, sidewalk or building, or interfere with a fronting business, before any liability attaches.
Subsection (c) then requires an officer to give the person a direct order to stop and to move on or disperse; only a person who fails or refuses that order is guilty of an offense under subsection (d). That two-step structure, a definition broad enough to cover ordinary standing around paired with an obstruction-plus-refusal requirement before a charge attaches, is what keeps mere idling on a Hanover County sidewalk from being a crime on its own.
Violations & Fines
A person who fails or refuses a law-enforcement officer's order under section 17-5(c) to stop obstructing conduct and move on or disperse is guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor under subsection (d), Virginia's top misdemeanor class, carrying up to twelve months in jail and a fine up to $2,500.00.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is loitering illegal by itself in Hanover County?
What must happen before I can be charged with loitering?
How broadly does the code define a 'public place'?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hanover County
Compare Hanover County to another location·View the Virginia public conduct overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.