HOUSTON – As the City of Houston continues to examine how to handle residents experiencing homelessness, the topic of panhandling has returned to the spotlight.
MORE: Houston expands civility ordinance: Advocates and officials voice concerns over implementation
Panhandling itself isn’t illegal in Texas. However, if you’ve ever wondered why someone can ask for help on a sidewalk but not in the middle of a busy intersection, the difference comes down to state law and how local cities enforce it.
Across our area, cities have taken their own approaches to regulating panhandling — often focusing on where it happens and how it’s done.
What Texas law says
The Texas Transportation Code bans standing in a roadway to solicit from drivers. In short: if you’re in traffic, it’s illegal. The only exception is for authorized charitable drives, like firefighter “Fill the Boot” campaigns.
Houston’s citywide rules
Houston’s ordinance goes a step further. Aggressive panhandling, such as following someone, blocking their path, or continuing after being told “no,” is illegal.
SUGGESTED: 2017 City Council vote on panhandling ban
It’s also against the law to solicit within 8 feet of certain locations, including ATMs, parking meters, public transit stops, and gas pumps. Violators can face fines of up to $500.
Downtown & East End: new civility ordinance
This summer, the City Council approved a new 24-hour “civility” ordinance downtown and in the East End. It prohibits lying down or placing belongings on sidewalks at all times of day — an expansion of a rule that previously only applied overnight.
Mayor John Whitmire has framed the measure as part of a broader homelessness plan, saying the goal is to connect people to housing and mental health resources while also responding to businesses and residents frustrated by street conditions.
“It’s a tool being used by our neighborhoods as we have more residents downtown,” he said. “But there is no doubt about it, a solution to the homeless conditions is a top priority. It’s one of the reasons I listed to run for office.”
Neighborhood concerns
Houston has made some progress in moving people off the streets, but city officials say there’s a long way to go.
Beyond downtown, neighborhoods have raised concerns about safety at intersections. In West Houston, residents described panhandlers as “moving closer in” and “more aggressive” more than a decade ago, sparking calls for enforcement that still echo today.
RELATED: Residents say aggressive panhandlers moving closer to neighborhoods
Mayor Whitmire has previously said the ordinance is one way to help keep public spaces clean and safe, especially as downtown grows busier with events in places like the Theater District and near the George R. Brown Convention Center.
Other cities in our viewing area
- Baytown: Updated ordinances include 50-foot buffers around ATMs, pay phones, gas pumps, and prohibit standing in roadways to solicit.
- Texas City: Follows state law, barring solicitation in roadways or medians unless it’s a permitted charity event.
- League City: Advises residents to report “aggressive” conduct; solicitation rules have been tightened in recent years.
- West University Place: Maintains a strict “No-Knock” list for door-to-door solicitation — another way some neighborhoods restrict unwanted approaches.
- The Woodlands: The Township urges residents to report aggressive incidents. State roadway rules still apply.
Conclusion
The City of Houston has made homelessness one of its top priorities.
Whitmire’s administration is pushing a mix of ordinances, outreach, and a $70 million regional plan to reduce encampments and connect more people to long-term housing.
He has also previously noted the ordinance is one way to help keep public spaces clean and safe, especially as downtown grows busier with events in places like the Theater District and near the George R. Brown Convention Center.
For residents, the rules can be confusing — but the bottom line is clear:
- It is legal to ask for help.
- It is illegal to solicit from vehicles in traffic or to engage in aggressive behavior.
- If you want to help, service providers suggest donating to local nonprofits instead of giving cash directly.