Last month, we explained the City of Tucker’s proposed loitering ordinance update and why it mattered for property owners. Now that update has been approved, and Tucker businesses can begin participating in the new loitering enforcement partnership with the DeKalb County Police Department.
The ordinance was adopted by the City of Tucker on March 9, 2026, bringing the City’s code into alignment with DeKalb County and allowing the program to move forward.
Why this matters for businesses
In the past, one of the biggest frustrations for business owners was that enforcement often depended on whether a property owner, manager, or other authorized representative was present when the problem was happening.
If a business was closed, if a manager had already left, or if staff did not want a confrontation, loitering and related activity could continue without a clear enforcement path. The update resolves that limitation.
Under the new Loitering Enforcement Authorization Program, businesses can voluntarily authorize the DeKalb County Police Department to enforce Tucker’s loitering ordinance on their property. Once that authorization is in place and the required signage is posted, officers have a clearer basis for acting when violations occur, even when no business representative is present.
As Matthew Lee, executive director of the Tucker-Northlake Community Improvement District, explained, “It’s been a long time coming. Now, with the owner’s authorization in place, officers can direct someone to leave without first waking a property owner in the middle of the night.”
Why Tucker had to wait
This is not a new concept. Similar programs have been used successfully in Chamblee and Brookhaven. However, because Tucker contracts with DeKalb County for police services, the City could not simply implement a local version on its own while the County did not support it. That meant Tucker businesses had to wait years for access to a tool already benefiting businesses in nearby cities, until new County leadership was elected and the program could move forward in DeKalb.
Mayor Anne Lerner was still serving on the City Council when she learned about this program and shared it with Lee, including who to contact. Lee then connected with Lt. Guy Antinozzi of the Chamblee Police Department, who created the program, and toured commercial areas in Chamblee where it was already in place.
“It was clear that this would benefit Tucker as well,” said Lee. “Thankfully, it can now be a reality.”
How the program helps
The value of the program is straightforward. It gives property owners another option for addressing recurring loitering, trespassing, disruption of customers, intimidation of employees, property damage, and related activity that can make a business environment feel unsafe or unwelcoming.
It also helps reduce the gray area that has too often existed between a known problem and a timely response.
What businesses need to do
Businesses that choose to participate agree to three basic steps:
- Post a city-provided “No Loitering” sign in a clearly visible location
- Complete the Loitering Enforcement Authorization Form, which authorizes DeKalb County Police to enforce the ordinance on the property
- Agree to cooperate with any investigations or legal proceedings that may result from enforcement actions on the property.
The City of Tucker is providing the signs so participating businesses have a consistent notice that officers can easily recognize. The City and County have also prepared the additional materials needed for businesses to enroll, including the authorization form and business handout.
What the updated ordinance covers
The updated ordinance clarifies where the code applies. It includes establishments that sell alcohol, automobile service stations, hotels and motels or extended-stay motels, convenience stores, sidewalks, and public streets or roads of the City.
It also keeps the procedural requirement that officers generally give a person an opportunity to identify themselves and explain their presence before an arrest is made. That provides a clearer enforcement framework while preserving guardrails in the process.
The takeaway
For Tucker’s business community, the takeaway is simple: this program is now available, it is voluntary, and it gives commercial property owners a clearer process than they had before.
It will not solve every public safety challenge, but it does provide one more practical tool for protecting private property, supporting employees, and creating a safer and more welcoming environment for customers.
How to take part
Businesses that want to participate can complete the Loitering Enforcement Authorization Form and email it to the DeKalb County Police Department Community Policing Unit at DKPDCPU@dekalbcountyga.gov.
Businesses with questions can also contact the unit at 678-406-7441. After enrollment, DKPD will follow up with signage guidance and next steps.