09/23/2026
🚨Trespass warning vs. trespass arrest, what’s the difference?
Venice Police Department
Last week, VPD officers arrested an individual for violating a trespass warning. But what does that mean, and how is a trespass warning different from an arrest?
Under Florida law, a trespass warning and a trespass arrest are not the same thing.
⚠️ A trespass warning is a notice to leave. A property owner, tenant or someone speaking on their behalf can tell a person to leave and not return without permission. In some situations, a law enforcement officer may deliver the warning for the property owner. A trespass warning does not mean the person has been arrested or charged with a crime. However, the person must leave the property when directed.
🚔 A trespass arrest involves a possible criminal offense. A person may be arrested if they refuse to leave after being warned, return to the property without permission or knowingly enter an area where signs, fencing or other notices clearly show that entry is not allowed. Most trespassing charges are misdemeanors. However, the charge may be more serious in certain situations, such as when a person is armed or enters certain protected or restricted properties.