Wilmington, NC Public Conduct: Loitering Rules (2026)

Section 6-19(a) defines "public place" broadly to include any street, sidewalk, bridge, alley, plaza, park, driveway, parking lot or transportation facility, the doorways and entrances of any building fronting those places, a vehicle in or on those places, or any property owned by the City of Wilmington. S. Ch. 90, Art. 5), or of a substantially similar law elsewhere in the state, another state, or federal law. Subsection (c) makes it unlawful to remain or wander about a public place in a manner and under circumstances manifesting a purpose to violate the Controlled Substances Act, and lists nine circumstances that qualify: repeatedly beckoning to or attempting to engage passers-by; repeatedly stopping or attempting to stop vehicles; repeatedly interfering with others' free passage; being a known drug user, possessor or seller; behaving in a way that raises reasonable suspicion of drug activity; repeatedly passing money or objects to or from passers-by; fleeing on a police officer's approach; being at a location known to be frequented by drug users, possessors or sellers; or being in a vehicle registered to, or known to be involved with, a known drug offender. The ordinance dates to May 17, 1989 and has not been amended since.