# 18 Pa.C.S. § 5503: Disorderly conduct

> Pennsylvania · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T18_C55_S5503

## Section

- **Citation:** 18 Pa.C.S. § 5503
- **Heading:** Disorderly conduct
- **Jurisdiction:** Pennsylvania
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Pennsylvania Code / Title 18 / Chapter 55 / Section 5503

## Text

(a) Offense defined.--A person is guilty of disorderly conduct if, with intent to cause public inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, or recklessly creating a risk thereof, he:

(1) engages in fighting or threatening, or in violent or tumultuous behavior;

(2) makes unreasonable noise;

(3) uses obscene language, or makes an obscene gesture; or

(4) creates a hazardous or physically offensive condition by any act which serves no legitimate purpose of the actor.

(b) Grading.--An offense under this section is a misdemeanor of the third degree if the intent of the actor is to cause substantial harm or serious inconvenience, or if he persists in disorderly conduct after reasonable warning or request to desist. Otherwise disorderly conduct is a summary offense.

(c) Definition.--As used in this section the word "public" means affecting or likely to affect persons in a place to which the public or a substantial group has access; among the places included are highways, transport facilities, schools, prisons, apartment houses, places of business or amusement, any neighborhood, or any premises which are open to the public. Cross References. Section 5503 is referred to in section 3019 of this title; section 12432 of Title 11 (Cities); sections

3573, 6328, 8902 of Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure); section 6138 of Title 61 (Prisons and Parole); section 4312 of Title 73 (Townships).

## Nearby sections

- [18 Pa.C.S. § 5501 Riot.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T18_C55_S5501.md)
- [18 Pa.C.S. § 5502 Failure of disorderly persons to disperse upon official order.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T18_C55_S5502.md)
- [18 Pa.C.S. § 5503 Disorderly conduct.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T18_C55_S5503.md)
- [18 Pa.C.S. § 5504 Harassment and stalking by communication or address (Repealed).](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T18_C55_S5504.md)
- [18 Pa.C.S. § 5505 Public drunkenness and similar misconduct.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T18_C55_S5505.md)
- [18 Pa.C.S. § 5506 Loitering and prowling at night time.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T18_C55_S5506.md)
- [18 Pa.C.S. § 5507 Obstructing highways and other public passages.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T18_C55_S5507.md)
- [18 Pa.C.S. § 5508 Disrupting meetings and processions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T18_C55_S5508.md)
- [18 Pa.C.S. § 5509 Desecration, theft or sale of venerated objects.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T18_C55_S5509.md)
- [18 Pa.C.S. § 5510 Abuse of corpse.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T18_C55_S5510.md)
- [18 Pa.C.S. § 5511 Cruelty to animals (Repealed).](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T18_C55_S5511.md)
- [18 Pa.C.S. § 5511.1 Live animals as prizes prohibited (Repealed).](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T18_C55_S5511.1.md)
- [18 Pa.C.S. § 5511.2 Police animals (Repealed).](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T18_C55_S5511.2.md)
- [18 Pa.C.S. § 5511.3 Assault with a biological agent on animal, fowl or honey bees (Repealed).](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T18_C55_S5511.3.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T18_C55_S5503. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.