Chino's Public Conduct: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles public conduct a little differently. In Chino, California, there are 7 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Public Urination

Chino Municipal Code §§ 9.26.020 and 9.26.030 make it unlawful to urinate or defecate anywhere in the city except in a restroom, defined as a fully enclosed room with a flush toilet so the act is not visible from outside. Violation is a misdemeanor under § 9.26.040, adopted by Ordinance 2002-02 to protect public health and "promote human decency."

Key details: Urination ban: Chino Municipal Code § 9.26.020. Defecation ban: Chino Municipal Code § 9.26.030. Restroom defined as: Fully enclosed room with flush toilet. Applies: Citywide, any place, not just public view. Related section: § 8.80.120 (public-view variant, Ord. 2015-002).

A violation of either § 9.26.020 or § 9.26.030 is a misdemeanor under § 9.26.040, the chapter's dedicated penalty section adopted with the rest of Chapter 9.26 by Ordinance 2002-02 § 1 (part), 2002. Chino police and code enforcement officers may issue a citation on the spot; each act of urination or defecation is treated as a separate offense.

Loud Party Ordinance

Chino declares loud or unruly private gatherings a public nuisance and fines the host up to $750 for repeat police responses within 48 hours.

Key details: First response: Written warning only. 2nd response fine: $250. 3rd response fine: $500. 4th+ response fine: $750.

Hosting a loud or unruly gathering is a public nuisance; a subsequent officer response within 48 hours of a warning draws an administrative fine of $250 to $750 per response and can be charged as an infraction or misdemeanor.

Loitering Rules

Loitering without a legal purpose on or around any Chino-owned public building, including grounds, parking lots and entrances, is unlawful under the city's conduct-in-public-buildings ordinance.

Key details: Scope: all city-owned/leased public buildings. Covers: grounds, parking lots, entrances. Prohibited: loitering w/o legal purpose. Also barred: loitering outside posted hours. Adopted: Ord. 2019-010, 2019.

Violating the public-buildings conduct chapter is a misdemeanor under the city's general penalty (Ch. 1.12); the city may also pursue administrative citation or injunctive relief (§ 12.22.040).

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

Public Alcohol Use

Chino Municipal Code § 9.24.030 makes drinking or consuming any intoxicating beverage in a public place a misdemeanor, and § 9.24.035 separately makes mere possession of an open, uncovered alcohol container in public an infraction. "Public place" reaches streets, sidewalks, parkways, parks and even city hall grounds, and § 9.24.037 extends the open-container rule to sidewalks next to liquor stores.

Key details: Drinking in public: Misdemeanor, § 9.24.030. Open container possession: Infraction, § 9.24.035. Near liquor store premises: Infraction, § 9.24.037. "Public place" includes: Streets, sidewalks, parks, city hall grounds. Intoxicating beverage threshold: Over 0.5% alcohol by volume.

Drinking in a public place under § 9.24.030 is a misdemeanor. Simple possession of an open container under §§ 9.24.035 and 9.24.037 is charged only as an infraction, a lesser offense. Entering or remaining in a vehicle on a public street while intoxicated or drinking, under § 9.24.040, is likewise a misdemeanor, and each of these is enforceable directly by Chino police officers on patrol.

Jaywalking

Chino can post signs barring pedestrians and bicyclists from crossing the roadway at specific spots the council finds create traffic complications; crossing where such a sign is posted is prohibited citywide.

Key details: Applies: Only where signs posted. Covers: Pedestrians and bicyclists. Adopted: Ord. 91-23, 1991. Location: Title 10, Vehicles and Traffic.

Crossing at a location posted under § 10.23.020 is a citable traffic violation enforced by Chino police; the section itself sets no separate fine, so the code's general infraction penalty provisions apply.

Skateboarding Rules

Chino bars skateboarding and roller-skating on any public ground, lot, or structure, and on private business-district property, wherever the owner has posted a compliant no-riding sign.

Key details: Applies: Only where signs posted. Covers: Public grounds and business districts. Adopted: Ord. 2003-16, 2003. Penalty: Infraction; repeat is misdemeanor.

Riding where a compliant sign is posted is an infraction under CMC § 10.24.120(A); a person ordered out of a designated skate area who returns within 48 hours, or refuses to leave, commits a misdemeanor under § 10.24.120(B).

Public Marijuana Use

Chino bans smoking, expressly including marijuana, inside any city-owned or leased public building and within twenty feet of its entrances, exits, or operable windows, under Municipal Code § 12.22.030(A)(5). The chapter's own definition of "smoking" at § 12.22.020(H) names marijuana, natural or synthetic, alongside vaping devices.

Key details: Buffer from building: 20 feet of entrance, exit, or window. "Smoking" covers: Marijuana, natural or synthetic, plus vaping. Where it applies: City-owned/leased public buildings & premises. Includes: Recreational facilities located in public parks. Penalty: Misdemeanor or administrative citation.

Under § 12.22.040, any violation of Chapter 12.22 is a public nuisance punishable as a misdemeanor under the citywide general penalty, Chapter 1.12, meaning up to a $1,000 fine, up to six months in jail, or both (§ 1.12.010(B)). The city may instead pursue an administrative citation under Chapter 1.15, or injunctive relief, at its discretion, and § 12.22.050 makes all these remedies cumulative rather than exclusive, so more than one can be used at once.

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

The Bottom Line

Chino is tougher than many cities when it comes to public conduct. Out of the 7 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Chino, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

Keep in mind that Chino can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.