Florissant, MO Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Obstruction Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 210.720, Obstructing Public Places
- Enacted by
- Ord. No. 8631, 9-14-2020
- Enforcement step
- Officer must order person to move on first
- Penalty
- Up to $1,000 fine / 3 months jail (§ 100.080)
- Covers
- Streets, sidewalks, public places, business entrances
Summary
Florissant makes it unlawful to stand idle in a public place, alone or with others, so as to knowingly block a public street, highway, sidewalk or building entrance. Police must first order violators to move on before a citation issues.
PUBLIC PLACE Any place to which the general public has access and a right of resort for business, entertainment or other lawful purpose, but does not necessarily mean a place devoted solely to the uses of the public. It shall also include the front or immediate area of any store, shop, restaurant, tavern or other place of business and also public grounds, areas or parks. ... It shall be unlawful for any person to stand or remain idle either alone or in consort with others in a public place in such manner so as to knowingly and actually: 1. Obstruct any public street, public highway, public sidewalk or any other public place or building by hindering or impeding the free and uninterrupted passage of vehicles, traffic or pedestrians; ... When any person causes or commits any of the conditions in this Section, a Police Officer or any Law Enforcement Officer shall order that person to stop causing or committing such conditions and to move on or disperse. Any person who knowingly fails or refuses to obey such orders shall be guilty of a violation of this Section.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4989395; v43 updated 2026-05-26; through 05-26-2026).
Full Breakdown
720 of the Florissant Code of Ordinances, adopted by Ord. No. 8631 on September 14, 2020, defines a "public place" broadly to include the front or immediate area of any store, shop, restaurant or tavern, plus public grounds, areas and parks. It is unlawful to stand or remain idle, alone or with others, in a way that knowingly obstructs a public street, public highway, public sidewalk or any other public place or building by hindering or impeding the free and uninterrupted passage of vehicles, traffic or pedestrians.
The ordinance separately bars obstructing entrances to any business establishment against the wishes of the owner, lessee, managing agent or person in charge, and bars any act that interferes with the free use of property or with business lawfully conducted along a public street or sidewalk. Enforcement is graduated: when a Police Officer or other Law Enforcement Officer observes the conditions described in the section, the officer must first order the person to stop and to move on or disperse. It is the failure or refusal to obey that order, not the initial obstruction alone, that completes the offense.
080: a fine of up to one thousand dollars, imprisonment in the City or County Jail for up to three months, or both, with each day a violation continues counted as a separate offense.
Violations & Fines
Failing or refusing to obey a police order to stop obstructing and move on is the chargeable offense under Section 210.720. Because the section carries no specific penalty, it defaults to the Section 100.080 general penalty: up to a $1,000 fine, up to three months in the City or County Jail, or both, with continuing violations charged day by day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I be cited immediately for standing on a Florissant sidewalk?
What counts as a public place under this Florissant ordinance?
What is the penalty for refusing to move on in Florissant?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Florissant
Compare Florissant to another location·View the Missouri sidewalk & pedestrian rules overview
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