New Rochelle, NY Public Conduct: Loitering Rules (2026)

Section 192-1 declares it a violation of the City Code to loiter in a public place for the purpose of conducting illegal activity, including using illegal drugs as defined under the Mental Hygiene Law, drinking in public, or committing any other offense punishable under the Penal Law or city code. The Council's stated intent is to protect "safe and unobstructed streets, sidewalks and other public places" and to stop people from gathering to conduct illegal activity, while also restricting access to specific "restricted public places" that are not open to the general public at large.

Beyond the general street-and-sidewalk ban, § 192-1 names three City facilities where loitering is barred outright, regardless of purpose: the New Rochelle train station (except for patrons of the station, the taxicab company, the coffee shop or the dry-cleaning establishment there), the New Rochelle Public Library, and any New Rochelle municipal parking garage. The Police Department must post due notice of each of these restrictions before they can be enforced. The ordinance grew out of the City Council's finding that these three facilities need extra protection to keep them safe and comfortable for the people actually using them.

Chapter 192 traces back to Sec. 7-47 of the 1965 General Ordinances and was substantially amended in 1982 and again by Local Law No. 9-1995, which added the train station, library and garage restrictions. Enforcement rests with the New Rochelle Police Department, which issues the notices and can charge violators under § 192-2.