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Public Conduct in Pennsylvania (2026)

109 rules on the books across Pennsylvania, 24 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.

Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions

Aggressive Panhandling

LAMC §41.59 prohibits panhandling that involves intimidation, blocking, or following a person, including penalties and how it differs from passive solicitation.

Bucks County

Significant Restrictions

Bucks County bans peddling, business solicitation and charity fundraising anywhere in the county Park System unless the…

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Erie

Significant Restrictions

Erie's panhandling ordinance doesn't ban solicitation outright, but it bars panhandling that blocks traffic or crosses…

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Franklin Township

Significant Restrictions

Franklin Township's park rules flatly ban begging or soliciting anywhere on township park property. Section 16-103.F…

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Harrisburg

Significant Restrictions

In the City of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Chapter 3-367 bans panhandling, solicitation and begging in an aggressive…

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Pittsburgh

Significant Restrictions

Pittsburgh bans aggressive panhandling outright, defining it as intimidating approaches, following, unwanted touching…

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Reading

Significant Restrictions

Reading bans panhandling within 25 feet of outdoor cafes, 20 feet of ATMs and public toilets, on private property…

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Allentown

Some Restrictions

Allentown bans panhandling after sunset or before sunrise, at bus and train stops, on private property without…

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Lower Paxton

Some Restrictions

Lower Paxton Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, regulates aggressive solicitation through Chapter 137, Peddling…

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Philadelphia

Some Restrictions

Philadelphia Code § 10-611(4) bans aggressive sidewalk solicitation, blocking, touching, yelling, or intimidating…

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Pottstown

Some Restrictions

Pottstown has no ordinance targeting 'aggressive' panhandling specifically; instead, Borough Code § 301 folds begging…

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Skateboarding Rules

LAMC §56.15 and §63.44 limits on skateboarding on sidewalks, in parks, and in commercial corridors, including helmet requirements and skate-park designations.

Lower Merion

Heavy Restrictions

Lower Merion Township bans skateboards and skateshoes on all Township property, sidewalks and streets, with a narrow…

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Scranton

Heavy Restrictions

Scranton bans skateboarding and rollerblading entirely within a downtown area bounded by Hickory Street, Vine Street…

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Allentown

Significant Restrictions

Skateboarding is prohibited on any sidewalk or street in Allentown's Core Business District at all times, and banned…

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Erie

Significant Restrictions

Erie bans skateboarding outright in Perry Square Park and the Transitway Mall, and on every other City-owned or…

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Pittsburgh

Significant Restrictions

Pittsburgh bans riding skateboards, roller skates, scooters and bicycles on sidewalks within any business district…

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Pottstown

Significant Restrictions

Pottstown bans skateboarding, roller-skating, roller-blading and toy-vehicle riding on any street except to cross it…

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York County

Significant Restrictions

York County bars skateboards from the Courthouse and every other county building without the Sheriff's written…

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Bethlehem

Some Restrictions

Bethlehem prohibits roller skating, skateboarding or operating any recreational-type device on the city's downtown…

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Bucks County

Some Restrictions

Bucks County confines skateboards, in-line skates and similar wheeled equipment to designated skate parks or paved…

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Franklin Township

Some Restrictions

In Franklin Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, skateboarding on any street is illegal except to cross the roadway…

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Harrisburg

Some Restrictions

In the City of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, skateboards, roller skates, coasters and similar devices are banned on…

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Haverford

Some Restrictions

Skateboarding, bicycling and roller skating on any sidewalk in a business district or place of public gathering in…

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Reading

Some Restrictions

Reading bans roller-skating, skateboarding and riding a coaster or other toy vehicle on any city street, except to…

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Lower Paxton

Light Restrictions

In Lower Paxton Township, Pennsylvania, bicycles, skateboards and roller blades are not permitted on park ballfields…

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Philadelphia

Light Restrictions

Skateboarding on a public sidewalk is banned only within specific zones City Council has designated, not citywide…

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Loitering Rules

Constitutional limits on loitering ordinances post-Papachristou and Morales, and what conduct LA can still penalize (e.g., loitering with intent to commit specific crimes).

Erie

Heavy Restrictions

Erie's Article 737 makes it a summary offense to loiter in any public place with the purpose of committing or aiding a…

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Abington

Significant Restrictions

Abington Township bans loitering that obstructs streets, sidewalks or businesses, makes loud or abusive noise, or…

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Scranton

Significant Restrictions

Scranton bans loitering in any public place that obstructs a street, sidewalk, bridge or building's free passage, under…

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York County

Significant Restrictions

York County makes loitering a stand-alone park violation: § 75-26 bars remaining in any area of the park system for no…

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Allentown

Some Restrictions

Allentown bars loitering that blocks streets, sidewalks or businesses, and lets police order violators to stop before…

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Bensalem

Some Restrictions

Bensalem Township makes it unlawful to loaf, loiter or stand on sidewalks, roads or other public places in a way that…

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Bethlehem

Some Restrictions

Bethlehem bans loitering that blocks a public street, sidewalk, bridge, or building, or that interferes with a…

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Bristol Township

Some Restrictions

In Bristol Township, Pennsylvania, § 127-2A makes it loitering to gather, alone or with other persons, for an unlawful…

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Bucks County

Some Restrictions

Bucks County parks run sunrise to sunset unless the Director sets different hours, and section 9.24(A) of the Park…

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Harrisburg

Some Restrictions

In the City of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Chapter 3-339 bars anyone from maliciously loitering or prowling in a public…

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Haverford

Some Restrictions

In Haverford Township, loafing, loitering or strolling in a street, alley or other public place, at a public gathering…

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Lower Merion

Some Restrictions

Lower Merion Township lists loafing, loitering, idling or lounging as an act of disorderly conduct. Code § 111-7F names…

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Penn Hills

Some Restrictions

Penn Hills prohibits loafing or loitering on sidewalks and streets in a way that blocks passage near churches, schools…

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Pottstown

Some Restrictions

Pottstown Borough Code § 502 makes it disorderly conduct to remain idle in one public location intending to cause…

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Reading

Some Restrictions

Reading bans loitering that obstructs streets, sidewalks, bridges or public buildings by hindering the free passage of…

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Millcreek

Light Restrictions

In Millcreek Township, Erie County, Pennsylvania, it is unlawful to maliciously prowl or maliciously loiter on the…

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Philadelphia

Light Restrictions

Loitering that blocks passage on transit platforms or private property open to the public is banned citywide under…

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Outdoor Smoking Restrictions

LAMC §41.50 + LA County smoking bans in parks, beaches, restaurants, outdoor dining, and within 25 ft of business entrances; enforcement and signage rules.

Abington

Heavy Restrictions

Abington Township bans smoking and e-cigarette or other tobacco use in any township-owned park or playground once a "No…

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Bristol Township

Significant Restrictions

Bristol Township, Bucks County, bans smoking, vaping and all tobacco use in every Township park, in park facilities and…

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Haverford

Significant Restrictions

In Haverford Township, all areas of Township parks and playgrounds where children are or may be present are…

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Lower Merion

Significant Restrictions

Lower Merion Township bans smoking in all Township parks except designated motor vehicle parking areas and any other…

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Lower Paxton

Significant Restrictions

In Lower Paxton Township, Pennsylvania, smoking, vaping, juuling and the use of any other form of e-cigarettes is…

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Pittsburgh

Significant Restrictions

Pittsburgh bans smoking and all tobacco use, including vaping, in every city park, playground and pool under City Code…

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Scranton

Significant Restrictions

Scranton designates every city park and playground where children are present as tobacco-free, banning cigarettes…

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Allentown

Some Restrictions

Allentown Code § 425-15E bars smoking or vaping any substance within 25 feet of playgrounds and athletic fields and…

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Bensalem

Some Restrictions

Bensalem Township bans smoking on all township-owned property and public places under Code Chapter 38, covering every…

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Bristol

Some Restrictions

Bristol Borough bans smoking in its recreational, athletic and playground areas and all public open spaces owned by the…

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Bucks County

Some Restrictions

Bucks County bars tobacco and e-cigarette use within 50 feet of any recreational field or playground in the county Park…

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Erie

Some Restrictions

Every City-owned park, playground and recreation area in Erie is designated a tobacco-free zone under Article 747…

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Philadelphia

Some Restrictions

Philadelphia's Clean Indoor Air Worker Protection Law reaches outdoors: smoking is banned within 20 feet of any…

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Delaware County

Light Restrictions

Delaware County lets its Parks Board designate no-smoking zones inside county parks, covering e-cigarettes and vaping…

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Harrisburg

Light Restrictions

In the City of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, smoking is banned inside City playgrounds and pools and in all outdoor areas…

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Public Marijuana Use

CA Health & Safety Code §11362.3 prohibits cannabis use in public, including parks, sidewalks, and inside vehicles; penalties and consumption-lounge exceptions.

Bucks County

Heavy Restrictions

Bucks County's Park System Rules bar consuming or possessing marijuana or any other controlled substance anywhere…

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York County

Heavy Restrictions

York County's park code makes it a separate offense to sell, use, transport, possess or grow any drug, narcotic or…

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Pittsburgh

Significant Restrictions

Smoking marijuana in any public space in Pittsburgh is a summary violation carrying a $100 fine per offense, issued by…

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Reading

Significant Restrictions

Reading makes smoking or consuming any amount of marijuana or hashish in public a civil offense carrying a $150 fine…

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Bethlehem

Some Restrictions

Bethlehem bans personal possession or use of a small amount of marijuana anywhere in the city, including public…

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Erie

Some Restrictions

Smoking marijuana in any public space in Erie carries a $100 summary fine, and simple possession alone draws a lower…

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Harrisburg

Some Restrictions

In the City of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Chapter 3-373 makes personal possession or personal use of a small amount of…

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Philadelphia

Some Restrictions

Smoking a small amount of marijuana in any public space in Philadelphia is a civil violation carrying a $100 fine…

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Allentown

Light Restrictions

Allentown makes personal possession or use of a small amount of marijuana a summary offense rather than a state drug…

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Delaware County

Light Restrictions

Delaware County treats possessing or smoking 30 grams or less of marijuana in a public space as a civil violation…

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Upper Darby

Light Restrictions

Upper Darby decriminalized personal marijuana use and possession of a small amount in 2020: instead of an arrest…

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Public Alcohol Use

LAMC §41.27 + CA Bus & Prof §25620 prohibit drinking alcohol on public streets, sidewalks, parks, and beaches; penalties and special-event exemptions.

Abington

Heavy Restrictions

Abington Township bans carrying or drinking alcohol in any public place: streets, sidewalks, parks, parking lots…

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Erie

Heavy Restrictions

Erie makes it a crime to drink alcohol on any street, sidewalk, park or public place, or in a vehicle that's moving…

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Lower Merion

Heavy Restrictions

Lower Merion Township bans drinking or holding an open container of alcohol anywhere on a public street or public real…

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York County

Heavy Restrictions

York County bans transporting, selling, consuming or possessing alcoholic beverages anywhere in the county park system…

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Allegheny County

Significant Restrictions

Allegheny County bans open-container alcohol and all glass alcohol containers in County parks, except in permitted…

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Allentown

Significant Restrictions

Allentown prohibits drinking or carrying an open container of alcohol in any public place, including streets and…

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Bethlehem

Significant Restrictions

Bethlehem bans alcoholic beverages in city parks except inside designated pavilions at Monocacy, Saucon and South…

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Bristol

Significant Restrictions

Bristol Borough bans drinking alcohol on any street, avenue, alley, sidewalk, stairway, thoroughfare or other public…

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Bristol Township

Significant Restrictions

Bristol Township bans drinking liquor or malt beverages on public streets, sidewalks, parks, school grounds and parking…

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Bucks County

Significant Restrictions

Consuming or possessing an alcoholic beverage anywhere in the Bucks County Park System is banned unless the Director or…

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Delaware County

Significant Restrictions

Delaware County bans alcoholic beverages and controlled substances in every county park, with one narrow exception…

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Franklin Township

Significant Restrictions

In Franklin Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, possessing, selling or using alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs…

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Harrisburg

Significant Restrictions

In the City of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, no one can transport or possess an open container of beer, wine or alcoholic…

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Haverford

Significant Restrictions

In Haverford Township it is unlawful to drink alcohol on any public way open to vehicle or pedestrian travel, and an…

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Lower Paxton

Significant Restrictions

In Lower Paxton Township, Pennsylvania, it is unlawful for any person in a Township recreation, park or conservation…

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Penn Hills

Significant Restrictions

Penn Hills bars anyone from bringing or drinking alcoholic beverages in municipal parks or municipally owned buildings…

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Philadelphia

Significant Restrictions

Drinking or carrying an open container of alcohol on Philadelphia streets, sidewalks, or unpermitted private property…

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Pittsburgh

Significant Restrictions

Pittsburgh bans drinking or carrying an open alcohol container in the public right-of-way and on private property…

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Pottstown

Significant Restrictions

Pottstown Borough Code § 202 makes it unlawful to possess an open container of, or drink, liquor, wine or beer on any…

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Bensalem

Some Restrictions

Bensalem Township Code Chapter 54, Article III makes it a breach of the peace to drink or carry an open container of…

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Reading

Some Restrictions

Reading bars drinking alcohol in public places unless the law permits it, and bars drinking on private property without…

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Scranton

Some Restrictions

Scranton bans drinking alcohol and carrying an open container of it on public sidewalks, streets, parks and other…

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Upper Darby

Some Restrictions

Upper Darby Township Code Chapter 216 makes it a summary offense to drink alcohol or carry an open container on any…

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