Asheville, August 28, 2025
News Summary
The Asheville City Council has voted to enhance panhandling restrictions in high-traffic areas due to rising service calls related to suspicious behavior. The new amendment expands designated zones for solicitation, including areas around Haywood Road and Patton Avenue. While panhandling remains allowed outside these zones, verbal solicitation will be prohibited within them, aiming to improve public safety. With mixed community responses, city officials emphasize the balance between ensuring safety and supporting vulnerable populations.
Asheville – The Asheville City Council has voted to expand restrictions on panhandling and solicitation in high-traffic areas following a significant increase in service calls related to suspicious behavior and panhandling over the past year. This decisive action took place on Tuesday and is aimed at enhancing public safety while balancing the constitutional rights of individuals.
In the last year, there were over 430 service calls made to the Asheville Police Department concerning panhandling, trespassing, and suspicious individuals. The new amendment enlarges the already established downtown zone and adds new zones around Haywood Road and Patton Avenue, alongside the existing areas of downtown and Biltmore Village. The city defines high-traffic zones as locations with notable pedestrian and bicycle activity, targeting areas that pose risks not only to those engaging in panhandling but also to the general public.
Despite the increase in restrictions, panhandling and solicitation will still be permissible on sidewalks located outside these designated zones. Inside the high-traffic zones, however, verbal solicitation will be prohibited. Moreover, solicitation will also be banned in medians, streets, and road shoulders. The city outlined that violations could lead to potential court citations, with judges holding the authority to impose fines or deferred prosecutions.
The Asheville Police Department noted that in the past year, they received 325 service calls specifically related to panhandling. Alongside this, there were also 67 reported pedestrian collisions. Notable areas with a high volume of service calls include Brevard Road, Haywood Road, Merrimon Avenue, Patton Avenue, Smokey Park Highway, and South Tunnel Road. Alarmingly, around 30% of the reported pedestrian crashes occurred within 25 feet of locations where panhandling was reported.
Public responses to the new restrictions have been mixed. Some community members opposed the changes during public comment sessions, arguing that it is high traffic, rather than panhandling, that contributes to pedestrian accidents. They criticized the measures for potentially “criminalizing homelessness” and emphasized the need for a compassionate approach towards individuals experiencing poverty.
The Asheville Police Department has acknowledged challenges with enforcing existing panhandling laws, attributing these difficulties to staff shortages. Council members recognized the ongoing deliberation between ensuring public safety while concurrently supporting vulnerable populations, particularly those facing homelessness.
The city manager described these updates as part of a comprehensive strategy to address aggressive panhandling while clarifying that the intent is not to criminalize homelessness but rather to enhance safety for both pedestrians and those who panhandle.
This decision comes at a crucial time as cities across the nation grapple with similar issues, balancing public safety concerns with the rights of individuals engaging in panhandling. Asheville’s approach looks to address the needs of a diverse community while striving to maintain the city’s culture of generosity and support toward those in need.
FAQ
What are the new panhandling restrictions in Asheville?
The Asheville City Council has expanded that panhandling and solicitation will be restricted in newly designated high-traffic zones, including areas around Haywood Road and Patton Avenue.
What are high-traffic zones?
High-traffic zones are defined as locations with significant amounts of pedestrian and bicycle activity, where restrictions on verbal solicitation and solicitation in medians, streets, and road shoulders are enforced.
What penalties do violators face under the new restrictions?
Violators of the new panhandling restrictions may face court citations. Only judges have the power to impose fines or deferred prosecutions for these violations.
How many service calls related to panhandling did Asheville receive?
In the past year, the Asheville Police Department received 325 service calls specifically regarding panhandling.
How does Asheville plan to address concerns about public safety and homelessness?
The city aims to balance public safety with constitutional rights and the necessity for compassion, addressing aggressive panhandling without criminalizing homelessness.
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HERE Resources
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Additional Resources
- 828 News Now: Asheville Expands Panhandling Restrictions
- Wikipedia: Panhandling
- WLOS: Asheville City Council Votes on Expanded Restrictions
- Google Search: Asheville panhandling restrictions
- Mountain X: Public Safety Committee Advances Panhandling Restrictions
- Google News: Asheville panhandling law
- WLOS: Asheville City Council Advances Panhandling Crackdown
- Google Scholar: Asheville panhandling restrictions
- 828 News Now: Asheville Late Inning Collapse
Author: STAFF HERE ASHEVILLE WRITER
The ASHEVILLE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREAsheville.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Asheville, Buncombe County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Asheville Bread Festival, LEAF Festival, and mountain sports tournaments at Biltmore Estate. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce and Explore Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau, plus leading businesses in hospitality and brewing that power the local economy such as the Biltmore Estate and Sierra Nevada Brewing Company. As part of the broader HERE network, including HERECharlotte.com, HEREGreensboro.com, HERERaleigh.com, and HEREOBX.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into North Carolina's dynamic landscape.
