Salt Lake City, UT Public Conduct: Loitering Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Time limit
- 2 minutes obstructing sidewalk passage
- After police order
- 1 minute to move or comply
- Citation
- Salt Lake City Code § 14.20.100
- Default penalty
- class B misdemeanor, § 1.12.050
Summary
Salt Lake City makes it unlawful to stand, sit, or lie on a sidewalk for more than two minutes if it blocks pedestrian passage, or to stay there past one minute after a police officer orders you to move.
It is unlawful for any person to remain standing, lying or sitting on any sidewalk for a longer period than two (2) minutes, in such manner as to obstruct the free passage of pedestrians thereon, or wilfully to remain standing, lying or sitting thereon in said manner for more than one minute after being requested to move by any police officer...
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-21: Code current through: Ord. 40-26, passed June 16, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Salt Lake City Code section 14.20.100 targets loitering that obstructs sidewalks rather than loitering in general. It's unlawful to remain standing, lying, or sitting on a sidewalk for longer than two minutes in a way that blocks free passage of pedestrians, or to willfully stay in that position for more than one minute after a police officer asks the person to move. The section also separately bars willfully blocking sidewalk access into or out of abutting or adjoining property. No section-specific penalty is listed, so it falls under the citywide default in section 1.12.050.
Violations & Fines
No penalty is set in section 14.20.100, so it defaults to a class B misdemeanor under section 1.12.050: up to a $1,000 fine, up to six months in jail, or both.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is loitering illegal in Salt Lake City?
What happens if I don't move when a police officer asks?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Salt Lake City
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Loitering Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Salt Lake County handle loitering rules.