Public Conduct in Carrollton, TX

If you live in Carrollton or are thinking about moving there, public conduct are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Carrollton has 7 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of public conduct, and some of them might surprise you.

Outdoor Smoking Restrictions

Chapter 93 of the Code of Ordinances bans possessing a burning tobacco product, smoking and vaping in a list of specified places across Carrollton, including every city park and city facility and the designated outdoor seating areas of outdoor theaters, athletic facilities and amphitheaters. Section 93.04 also bars smoking within 20 feet of the main entrance to any covered building.

Key details: Adopted: Ordinance 4062, April 5, 2022. Outdoor locations banned: City parks, city facilities, outdoor theater/athletic seating. Entrance buffer: 20 linear feet from covered main entrances. Max fine: $2,000 per offense, § 10.99(A)(2). Each day: Separate offense, § 93.07(C).

Any violation of Chapter 93, including smoking in a city park or within 20 feet of a covered entrance, is a misdemeanor under § 93.07(A), punishable under § 10.99(A)(2) up to $2,000 because Chapter 93 sits in the fire-safety/public-health fine tier. Each day the violation continues is a separate offense under § 93.07(C), and an owner, operator or agent who knowingly lets someone smoke in a prohibited area is separately liable under § 93.07(B).

This is one of the stricter rules in Carrollton's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Jaywalking

Carrollton requires pedestrians to use a marked crosswalk, or the intersection if none is marked, whenever they cross a roadway inside a designated school zone. City Code § 71.060 bans jaywalking specifically in these zones, and § 70.54 lets city-employed school crossing guards stop traffic and direct pedestrians there; disobeying a guard's lawful order is itself a separate offense.

Key details: Governing section: City Code § 71.060 (school zones only). Crossing rule: Crosswalk required, intersection if none marked. Guard authority: § 70.54 lets crossing guards stop traffic. Maximum fine: $500 per offense under § 10.99. Enforcement: Carrollton Municipal Court.

Crossing outside the crosswalk or intersection inside a marked school zone, or ignoring a crossing guard's stop signal, is a misdemeanor charged in Carrollton Municipal Court under Section 10.99, with fines up to $500 per violation. Prosecutors do not need to prove the pedestrian meant to violate the rule since Section 70.54(F) removes any culpable-mental-state element for crossing-guard offenses. Each crossing is a separate offense.

Skateboarding Rules

Carrollton bans skateboards, roller skates, scooters and similar toy vehicles from every roadway in the city under City Code § 71.062. Riders may only cross a street on a marked crosswalk, where they gain a pedestrian's rights and duties. The rule is citywide, not limited to business or commercial districts, and violators face the same Traffic Code fines as other Chapter 71 offenses.

Key details: Governing section: City Code § 71.062. Devices covered: Skates, skateboards, scooters, toy vehicles. Where banned: Any roadway citywide. Crosswalk exception: Riders treated as pedestrians while crossing. Maximum fine: $500 under § 10.99.

Riding a skateboard, roller skates or scooter on any Carrollton roadway, other than to cross at a marked crosswalk, is a misdemeanor traffic offense under § 71.062, fined up to $500 per Section 10.99. Officers can cite riders anywhere on a public street, not just downtown; each ride on the roadway is a separate chargeable offense in Municipal Court.

Compared to other cities, Carrollton takes a harder line on skateboarding rules. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Public Alcohol Use

Drinking alcohol on Carrollton streets, sidewalks, alleys, public parking lots and transit centers is unlawful outright. Consumption in other public places adjoining a street is also barred unless it falls under a listed permit exception, such as a TABC-licensed business, an approved special event, or the Downtown Square during a permitted event.

Key details: Streets/sidewalks/lots: Flat ban, no exception, Section 130.26(B)(1). Other public places: Barred unless a listed permit exception applies. Open container: Prima facie evidence of a violation. Downtown Square city events: Beer/wine allowed until 2:15 a.m.. Event security: Applicant funds off-duty police, Section 130.26(B)(3).

Consuming alcohol on a street, sidewalk, alley, public parking lot or transit center, or on another public place without qualifying for a listed exception, is a misdemeanor under Section 130.26(B)(4)(a), fined under the general penalty at Section 10.99. Simple possession of an open container in a public place is prima facie evidence of the offense under Section 130.26(B)(4)(b), and no intent showing is required.

Compared to other cities, Carrollton takes a harder line on public alcohol use. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Loitering Rules

Carrollton bars anyone from remaining, staying or loitering in a public park between 10:30 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., or outside a park's posted open hours. Loitering on a reserved section of a park after receiving notice of the reservation is also unlawful.

Key details: Default closed hours: 10:30 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.. Default open hours: 5:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.. Reserved-area loitering: Unlawful after notice, Section 133.16(S). Max fine: $500, Section 10.99(A)(1)(n). Vehicle parking: Also barred 10:30 p.m.-5:00 a.m., Section 133.18(D).

Remaining, staying or loitering in a Carrollton park between 10:30 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., outside posted hours, or on a reserved area after notice, is a misdemeanor under Section 133.16(R)-(S), fined up to $500 under Section 10.99(A)(1)(n). It is a defense to the reserved-area offense that the person was invited by the party holding the reservation.

Public Urination

Urinating or defecating on a Carrollton street, sidewalk, park or any other public place, or in public view anywhere, is a criminal offense under the city's general offenses chapter. Being inside a restroom at the time is the only defense the ordinance recognizes.

Key details: Governing section: § 130.14, Carrollton General Offenses. Adopted: Ordinance 2122, adopted 1/9/1996. Only defense: Person was in a restroom. Max fine: $500 per offense. Covers: Streets, parks, buildings and any public view.

A violation of § 130.14 is a misdemeanor, and Chapter 130 (General Offenses) falls within the code's standard penalty tier, capping the fine at $500 per offense under § 10.99(A)(1)(l). Because the statute defines the offense in the disjunctive, either urinating/defecating in an enumerated public location or doing so in public view anywhere is independently sufficient for a citation; officers do not need to prove both.

Aggressive Panhandling

Carrollton's Chapter 113 solicitors ordinance makes aggressive solicitation a criminal offense citywide, banning confrontational approaches, unwanted touching, obscene language, and blocking a person's path while asking for money under City Code § 113.04(I). The ban layers onto separate restrictions on early-morning, late-night, and holiday solicitation, plus a 25-foot buffer around ATMs and transit stops. Violators face a criminal fine under § 113.06.

Key details: Governing section: City Code § 113.04(I). Max fine: $500 per offense. Repeat violations: each day is separate offense. Enforcing agency: Carrollton Police Department. Last amended: Ordinance 4057, Feb. 25, 2022.

A Chapter 113 violation, including aggressive solicitation under § 113.04(I), is a fine-only misdemeanor capped at $500 per offense under City Code § 10.99(A)(1)(i), with each day a violation continues charged as a separate offense per § 113.06. No culpable mental state, meaning intent, must be proven. The Carrollton Police Department enforces the ordinance and can cite a solicitor on the spot for confronting, touching, or blocking pedestrians while soliciting.

Compared to other cities, Carrollton takes a harder line on aggressive panhandling. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

The Bottom Line

Carrollton is tougher than many cities when it comes to public conduct. Out of the 7 rules covered here, 4 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Carrollton, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

These rules come from Carrollton's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.