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Is it illegal to not return your shopping cart? Here’s what Florida law says

Marcus Chen
Managing Editor · Friday, October 16, 2026 at 9:00 AM · 1 min read
Is it illegal to not return your shopping cart? Here’s what Florida law says — ClickOrlando Local, Winter Garden Business news
Image: ClickOrlando Local

Plenty of shoppers have witnessed the sight during a trip to their local grocery or department store — empty shopping carts, left out in various parts of the parking lot by people too lazy to return them.It’s a sight that may annoy some, but it begs a pretty important question.Can you get in trouble?Funny enough, Florida state law actually addresses this. Per the statutes, it’s considered perfectly legal, though specific rules for shopping carts may vary depending on the store.[RELATED: Do drivers have to signal in turn-only lanes?]However, state law does prohibit customers from taking shopping carts off the store’s premises or parking area.As such, customers who try to walk a cart full of goods all the way home can face a first-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in prison.But that’s not all. That state law also applies to the following:Laundry cartsDairy casesEgg basketsPoultry boxesBakery containersFlorida state statutes also forbid customers from removing, obliterating

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