---
title: O.C.G.A. § 16-11-36. Loitering or prowling.
collection: code
id: 16-11-36
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 16-11-36 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-11-36
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-11-36.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-11-36/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t16-ch7-11-(v14a)-2018-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=aecbfe9c_0#page=761
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-11.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-11-35.md
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version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: CRIMES AND OFFENSES / OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER AND SAFETY / OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER
---

# O.C.G.A. § 16-11-36. Loitering or prowling.

(a) A person commits the offense of loitering or prowling when he is in a place at a time or in a manner not usual for law-abiding individuals under circumstances that warrant a justifiable and reasonable alarm or immediate concern for the safety of persons or property in the vicinity.

(b) Among the circumstances which may be considered in determining whether alarm is warranted is the fact that the person takes flight upon the appearance of a law enforcement officer, refuses to identify himself, or manifestly endeavors to conceal himself or any object. Unless flight by the person or other circumstances make it impracticable, a law enforcement officer shall, prior to any arrest for an offense under this Code section, afford the person an opportunity to dispel any alarm or immediate concern which would otherwise be warranted by requesting the person to identify himself and explain his presence and conduct. No person shall be convicted of an offense under this Code section if the law enforcement officer failed to comply with the foregoing procedure or if it appears at trial that the explanation given by the person was true and would have dispelled the alarm or immediate concern.

(c) A person committing the offense of loitering or prowling shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

(d) This Code section shall not be deemed or construed to affect or limit the powers of counties or municipal corporations to adopt ordinances or resolutions prohibiting loitering or prowling within their respective limits.

## History

Code 1933, § 26-2616, enacted by Ga. L. 1980, p. 388, § 1.

## Cross References

Loitering on school property, § 20-2-1180. Restriction on registered offenders residing, working, or loitering within certain distance of child care facilities, churches, schools, or areas where minors congregate; penalty for violations; civil causes of action, § 42-1-15.

## Law Reviews

For article, ‘‘Misdemeanor Sentencing in Georgia,’’ see 7 Ga. St. B.J. 8 (2001).