Parma, OH Public Conduct: Loitering Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Codified Ordinances § 648.10
- Offense level
- Misdemeanor of the fourth degree
- Maximum fine
- $250 under § 698.02
- Maximum jail term
- 30 days under § 698.02
- Pre-arrest step
- Officer must request ID and explanation
- Adopted
- Ordinance 13-96, passed March 4, 1996
Summary
Parma bans loitering or prowling in any public or private place under circumstances that would warrant alarm for the safety of persons or security of property. Codified Ordinances Section 648.10 lists red-flag behaviors, from fleeing at the sight of an officer to checking door and window locks, and requires police give a chance to explain before any arrest.
(a) No person shall loiter or prowl in any public or private place at a time, in a manner or under circumstances which warrant alarm for the safety of persons or security of property in the surrounding area. (b) Without limitation, the following circumstances may be considered in determining whether such alarm is warranted: (1) The flight of a person upon the appearance of a police officer; (2) Attempted concealment by a person upon the appearance of a police officer; and (3) The systematic checking by a person of doors, windows or other means of access to buildings, houses or vehicles. (c) Unless flight by the actor or other circumstances make it impracticable, a police officer shall, prior to any arrest for an offense under this section, afford the actor an opportunity to dispel any alarm which would otherwise be warranted, by requesting him to identify himself and explain his presence and conduct.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-30: Local legislation current to August 3, 2026 | State legislation current to June 25, 2025).
Full Breakdown
10(a) makes it unlawful to loiter or prowl anywhere in the city, public or private, in a manner that would cause reasonable alarm for personal safety or property security. Subsection (b) lists circumstances officers may weigh: fleeing at the appearance of a police officer, attempting to conceal oneself when an officer appears, and systematically checking doors, windows or other means of access to buildings, houses or vehicles. Before making an arrest, subsection (c) requires an officer to give the person a chance to identify themselves and explain their presence and conduct, unless flight or other circumstances make that impracticable; a conviction cannot stand if the officer skipped that step, or if the explanation given was true and, if believed at the time, would have dispelled the alarm.
Subsection (d) defines loitering to include lingering, hanging around, delaying, sauntering and moving slowly about where the conduct is not due to a physical condition, and distinguishes public places (streets, sidewalks, parks, municipal airports) from private places open to the public (shopping centers, retail stores, theaters, office buildings, restaurants) and purely private homes and apartments. The ordinance traces to Ordinance 13-96, passed March 4, 1996.
Violations & Fines
A violation of Section 648.10 is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree, punished under the citywide penalty schedule in Section 698.02 with up to 30 days in jail and a fine of up to $250. Parma police must first try to identify the person and hear an explanation before arresting, unless flight makes that impossible; an explanation that would have dispelled the alarm, if believed by the officer at the time, defeats a conviction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What behavior counts as loitering in Parma?
Can a Parma police officer arrest me on the spot for loitering?
What is the penalty for a loitering conviction in Parma?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Parma
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