How Cherry Hill Handles Public Conduct: A Practical Guide
Cherry Hill maintains 93 local ordinances across all categories, and 4 of those deal specifically with public conduct. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Cherry Hill falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.
Public Alcohol Use
Cherry Hill Township, in Camden County, New Jersey, makes it a disorderly persons offense to drink alcohol on any public street, sidewalk, parking lot, park, or public conveyance, or in a parked or moving vehicle on a public way. The same ban covers drinking on someone else's private property without permission and discarding alcohol containers in public, all under Township Code § 5-3.1.
Key details: Governing section: Township Code § 5-3.1. Covers: Streets, sidewalks, lots, parked/moving vehicles. Offense classification: Disorderly person. Recreation venues: Need ABC license to serve alcohol. Bowling alley exception: Adults 21+ may drink if unlicensed.
Consuming alcohol in a public place, in a parked or moving vehicle on a public way, or on private property without permission is a disorderly persons offense under § 5-3.1, enforced by the Cherry Hill Township Police Department. Serving or drinking alcohol at an unlicensed recreation center, ball field, pool parlor or public pool violates § 5-3.2; knowingly allowing anyone under 21 to drink in a bowling alley is a separate violation of the same section.
This is one of the stricter rules in Cherry Hill's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.
Outdoor Smoking Restrictions
Cherry Hill Township bans smoking anywhere on Township-owned property, including every park, playground, recreation facility, the Municipal Complex, the Department of Public Works, the Public Library, Croft Farm and the Historic Barclay Farmstead. Township Code § 5-8, enacted in 2012, is enforced by the Cherry Hill Police Department with fines that climb from $100 for a first offense to $500 for repeat violations.
Key details: Governing section: Township Code § 5-8. Adopted: Ord. No. 2012-25 (Nov. 26, 2012). Covers: All Township-owned land and buildings. First-offense fine: $100 to $150. Repeat-offense fine: $300 to $500.
Smoking on any Township-owned property, park, recreation facility, Municipal Complex, library ground or Croft Farm parcel violates § 5-8. The Cherry Hill Police Department issues summonses with fines of $100 to $150 for a first offense, $150 to $250 for a second, and $300 to $500 for a third or subsequent offense, plus the costs of prosecution in every case.
This is one of the stricter rules in Cherry Hill's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.
Public Urination
Cherry Hill Township bans public urination and defecation at its synthetic-surface athletic fields, and any user group needing a portable toilet on site must get Township approval and pay the rental cost itself.
Key details: Where: Synthetic surface athletic fields. Rule: No public urination or defecation. Port-o-john: Requires Township approval. Cost: Rental fees borne by requesting group. Max penalty: $2,000 fine / 90 days.
Violating the athletic-field conduct rules, including the urination and defecation ban, is enforced through Chapter 22's penalty at Section 22-3.2 and the citywide Section 1-5 schedule: up to a $2,000 fine, up to 90 days' imprisonment, or up to 90 days of community service. The Field Review Committee established under Section 22-10.4 can also restrict or revoke a group's field-use privileges for rule violations.
Loitering Rules
Cherry Hill Township bars anyone from loitering or remaining in a park pavilion or structure section reserved by the Recreation Department for the opposite sex, with an exception for children under six, as part of a broader park conduct-and-order rule.
Key details: Prohibited: Loitering in opposite-sex pavilion section. Exception: Children under 6. Restrooms: Sex-designated use required. Also barred: Threatening/indecent language. Max penalty: $2,000 fine / 90 days.
A person who loiters in a sex-designated pavilion section or restroom in violation of Section 22-1.13 is subject to the Chapter 22 penalty at Section 22-3.2 and the citywide general penalty in Section 1-5: up to a $2,000 fine, up to 90 days' imprisonment, or up to 90 days of community service. Park attendants and police may eject the person under Section 22-3.1.
If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Cherry Hill gives residents more flexibility on loitering rules.
The Bottom Line
Cherry Hill is tougher than many cities when it comes to public conduct. Out of the 4 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Cherry Hill, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.
This guide is based on Cherry Hill's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.