Royal Oak Township, MI Public Conduct: Loitering Rules (2026)

Section 16-80 of Chapter 16 (Offenses), Article V (Offenses Against Public Peace), is the Charter Township of Royal Oak's general loitering ordinance, adopted by Ord. No. 136 on 11-18-2004. It splits loitering in two. Loitering on private property is defined to include spending time idly, loafing or walking aimlessly, and also knowingly or willingly entering another's property without the consent of the owner, lessee or person rightfully in charge, if the premises is fenced or enclosed to exclude intruders or posted conspicuously against trespass.

Subsection (b) covers public places. No person can loiter in a way that creates a disturbance or annoyance to the comfort and repose of any person, creates a danger of breach of the peace, obstructs the free passage of pedestrians or vehicles, or obstructs, molests or interferes with any person lawfully in a public place. Subsection (b)(2) adds unsolicited remarks of an offensive, disgusting or insulting nature. Under § 16-1, a public place is any structure, building, alley, street, house, hall, room or other place to which the public has access.

The enforcement trigger in subsection (c) is an order to leave, which the owner, lessee, person rightfully in charge or any police officer can give. Refusing is the violation.

Related provisions sit nearby. Section 16-2 bans knowingly loitering in or about a place where an illegal occupation or business is conducted. Section 16-204 bans knowingly loitering about, frequenting or living in a place where controlled substances, hypodermic syringes or needles are sold, dispensed, stored or kept illegally. Section 17-35 bars any person from using, occupying, frequenting, loitering or being in a Township park from dusk to dawn unless other hours are posted or a special permit has been given. Section 16-256 sets a separate nighttime curfew for minors.