Lake County, FL Public Conduct: Loitering Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Location
- County parking garage, 124 N. Sinclair Ave., Tavares
- Rule
- Loiter or prowl per F.S. § 856.021 prohibited
- Classification
- Second-degree misdemeanor
- Other bans in same garage
- Skateboarding, alcohol, camping
- Enforced by
- County manager or designee
Summary
Lake County Code Sec. 15-14 bans loitering, as defined by Florida's loitering-and-prowling statute, inside the county parking garage at 124 North Sinclair Avenue in Tavares. The rule sits alongside bans on skateboarding, alcohol and camping in the garage, and loitering itself is a second-degree misdemeanor under state law.
(a)The purpose of these rules is to govern the use of the Parking Garage at 124 North Sinclair Avenue, Tavares, Florida, hereinafter referred to as parking garage.(b)It is a violation of this section for a person to commit any of the following acts in the parking garage:(1)Skateboard, in-line skate (rollerblade), roller skate, or bike;(2)Smoke or carry any lighted smoking instrument while in the elevator, stairwell or any enclosed portion of the parking garage;(3)Exceed the posted speed limit;(4)Consume any alcoholic beverages;(5)Loiter or prowl as described in F.S. § 856.021;
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 150).
Full Breakdown
Lake County operates a public parking garage at 124 North Sinclair Avenue in Tavares, and Sec. 15-14 of the county code governs conduct inside it. ' Under the state statute, an officer generally must give the person a chance to identify themselves and explain their presence before an arrest, and a person cannot be convicted if a truthful explanation would have dispelled the officer's concern. 021 is a second-degree misdemeanor. The parking garage rule sits alongside a list of other prohibited acts in the same subsection: skateboarding, in-line skating or biking in the garage; smoking in an elevator, stairwell or enclosed area; exceeding the posted speed limit; drinking alcohol; camping or sleeping in the garage; and remaining in the garage outside the hours the county manager designates for its use.
The county manager or designee sets those operating hours and enforces the rule; a person who disrupts garage operations or refuses to leave when directed can also be charged separately under subsection (b)(6).
Violations & Fines
Loitering in the Lake County parking garage under Sec. 15-14(b)(5) is charged as loitering or prowling under F.S. § 856.021, a second-degree misdemeanor punishable under Sections 775.082 and 775.083, Florida Statutes, meaning fines and jail time set by the state's general misdemeanor penalty scale, not a simple parking-ticket fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is loitering illegal in Lake County?
What is the penalty for loitering under Florida's statute?
What else is banned in the Lake County parking garage besides loitering?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lake County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Lake County to another location·View the Florida public conduct overview
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