How Hollywood Handles Public Conduct: A Practical Guide

Hollywood maintains 134 local ordinances across all categories, and 6 of those deal specifically with public conduct. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Hollywood falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Outdoor Smoking Restrictions

Hollywood bans cigarettes, filtered cigars, pipes, and any other lighted tobacco product on every public park, playground, and field in the city under Code of Ordinances § 103.03(C), covering a wider range of tobacco products than a typical park smoking rule.

Key details: Governing section: Hollywood Code § 103.03(C). Where banned: Public parks, playgrounds, fields. Products covered: Cigarettes, filtered cigars, pipes, other lit tobacco. Latest amendment: Ord. O-2023-05, passed 4-4-23. Same section also bars: Unpermitted fireworks/explosives on park land.

Anyone who smokes a cigarette, filtered cigar, pipe, or other lighted tobacco product in a Hollywood public park, playground, or field is in violation of § 103.03(C) and subject to enforcement by park rangers, code enforcement, or police under the city's general penalty provisions for park rule violations. The section has been amended four times since 1998 (1998, 2007, 2022, and 2023), reflecting ongoing city commission attention to park conduct enforcement.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Hollywood actively enforces its outdoor smoking restrictions requirements.

Skateboarding Rules

Hollywood bans skateboarding in two specific public spaces: ArtsPark at Young Circle, except its perimeter sidewalk, and the entire beachfront Broadwalk. Riding a board anywhere else inside ArtsPark or on the Broadwalk draws a citation, while the beach code layers escalating civil fines for repeat violations within a year.

Key details: ArtsPark rule: No skateboards except perimeter sidewalk. Broadwalk rule: Skateboarding banned outright. Broadwalk fines: $50 first offense, $100 second, $200 after. ArtsPark penalty: Up to $500 fine or 60 days jail. Allowed alternative: Roller skates and bikes permitted on Broadwalk.

Skateboarding inside ArtsPark at Young Circle, off the perimeter sidewalk, is punishable under the Code's general penalty, § 10.99, with a fine up to $500 and up to 60 days in jail. Skateboarding on the Broadwalk is a civil infraction under § 99.99: $50 for a first offense within a year, $100 for a second, and $200 for each one after that, with unpaid citations risking a $500 judgment.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Hollywood actively enforces its skateboarding rules requirements.

Aggressive Panhandling

Hollywood outlaws aggressive panhandling, begging or soliciting citywide under City Code Section 122.53, on top of location-based bans near bus stops, sidewalk cafes, ATMs and building entrances and a right-of-way solicitation ban on named major roads.

Key details: Governing section: § 122.53. Scope: Citywide, any location. Related location ban: § 122.52, e.g. within 15 ft of ATM. Prohibited roadways: US 441, Federal Hwy, A1A, Hollywood Blvd, Johnson St, Sheridan St. Intersection buffer: 200 feet on those roadways.

Violating the aggressive panhandling ban, the location-specific panhandling ban, or the prohibited-roadway solicitation rule is punishable under Section 122.99: a fine not exceeding $500, imprisonment not exceeding 60 days, or both, for each offense.

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

Loitering Rules

Hollywood Code § 133.27 makes it a violation to loiter or prowl in a manner not usual for law-abiding people under circumstances warranting alarm, and separately bars blocking sidewalks or building entrances after a police warning or posted no-loitering sign.

Key details: Governing section: § 133.27. Trigger for sidewalk provision: Police warning or posted sign. Pre-arrest requirement: Officer must allow explanation. Prostitution-loitering clause: § 133.27(C). Default penalty: Up to $500 fine, 60 days jail.

No specific fine is listed under § 133.27 itself, so violations fall under the chapter's general penalty in § 133.99(A), which routes to § 10.99: a fine not to exceed $500, imprisonment for up to 60 days, or both, when no other penalty is specified for the offense.

Public Urination

Hollywood Code § 133.31 makes it unlawful to urinate or defecate on any street, sidewalk, alley, park, beach, public building, or publicly maintained facility, or anywhere else open or exposed to public view, with a carve-out for restroom fixtures.

Key details: Governing section: § 133.31. Adopted: Ord. O-96-09, passed 4-17-96. Restroom exception: Designed sanitary fixtures exempt. Penalty section: Routes to § 10.99. Maximum penalty: $500 fine or 60 days jail.

The section states directly that violations "shall be subject to the penalty provisions of § 10.99," the code's general penalty section: a fine not to exceed $500, imprisonment for up to 60 days, or both, since no separate fine amount is set specifically for this offense.

Public Alcohol Use

Hollywood bans drinking or carrying an open alcoholic beverage container in any public park, street, beach, sidewalk, alley or right-of-way. Code of Ordinances § 113.06 carves out sidewalk cafes, city golf courses, the Hollywood Art and Culture Center, and city indoor facility permits as the only exceptions.

Key details: Governing section: Hollywood Code § 113.06. Covered areas: Parks, streets, beaches, sidewalks, alleys. Exceptions: Sidewalk cafes, private property, golf courses. Variance: Up to 7 days, City Manager approval. Penalty: Up to $250 fine or 30 days jail (§ 113.99).

Violating Chapter 113, including the open-container and public consumption ban in § 113.06, carries the chapter's general penalty under § 113.99(A): a fine of up to $250, imprisonment for up to 30 days, or both, with each day of continuing violation charged as a separate offense. Selling alcohol in a banned public area under division (B) exposes both the seller and, potentially, the organizing entity to that same penalty.

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

The Bottom Line

Hollywood is tougher than many cities when it comes to public conduct. Out of the 6 rules covered here, 4 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Hollywood, 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 Hollywood's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.