How Longmont Handles Public Conduct: A Practical Guide

Longmont maintains 129 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 Longmont falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Public Urination

Longmont bans depositing human excrement or waste in an unsanitary manner on any public or private property citywide, covering public urination and defecation as a strict-liability code violation.

Key details: Governing section: § 14.08.205. Penalty: up to $3,000 fine, 180 days jail. Liability standard: strict liability, per-day offense. Applies to: public and private property citywide.

Violating § 14.08.205 is a strict-liability offense under § 14.08.500: up to a $3,000 fine, 180 days in jail, or both, and each day of violation is a separate offense.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Longmont actively enforces its public urination requirements.

Public Marijuana Use

Longmont makes it unlawful to display, sell, give away, or consume marijuana in any public place, a citywide ban enforced independently of the state's own public-consumption rules.

Key details: Prohibited act: Public display, sale, or consumption. Applies to: Anyone, not just licensees. Max penalty: $999 fine, 180 days jail. Enforced by: Longmont Municipal Court.

Public display, sale, or consumption of marijuana violates § 6.70.240.C and is punishable under the general penalty of § 10.02.020: up to a $999 fine, 180 days in jail, or both, per § 6.70.260.

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

Public Alcohol Use

Longmont bans carrying or drinking an open container of beer, wine or liquor on any street, sidewalk, alley or other public place, inside a parked vehicle's passenger compartment, or on school grounds, except at a licensed bar or restaurant. Municipal Code § 10.16.110 caps the penalty at a fine only, up to $500, with no jail exposure.

Key details: Maximum penalty: $500 fine only, no jail. Covered locations: streets, sidewalks, alleys, school grounds. Vehicle rule: no open container in passenger compartment. Wine exception: resealed bottle under 750 ml, within 24 hrs. Exempt premises: licensed bars, restaurants, taverns, brew pubs.

Longmont Police cite violators under § 10.16.110; the municipal court's authority is capped at a fine only, up to $500, since this section carries its own penalty rather than defaulting to the Title 1.12.010 general penalty (which allows up to 90 days in jail for offenses with no stated fine). The ban applies to the person drinking or holding the container and, separately, to the vehicle operator who lets an open container sit in the passenger compartment.

Outdoor Smoking Restrictions

Longmont bans smoking in enclosed public places and workplaces plus three specific outdoor zones: the civic center block, the senior center/memorial building area, and the downtown Main Street district.

Key details: Fine range: $35 to $500 per violation. Repeat-offense minimum: $50, court cannot suspend. Outdoor smoking zones: Civic center block, senior center, Main Street. Signage: "No Smoking" signs required at entrances.

Fine of $35 to $500 per offense; second violation within 12 months carries a mandatory $50 minimum fine that cannot be suspended.

Compared to other cities, Longmont takes a harder line on outdoor smoking restrictions. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Skateboarding Rules

Longmont bans riding a skateboard, motorized skateboard, bicycle, or scooter on a defined Main Street sidewalk segment; riders must dismount, with a fine up to $300.

Key details: Fine: Up to $300, fine only. Zone: Main St sidewalks, 2nd-3rd to Longs Peak Ave. Covers: Bikes, skateboards, scooters. Exempt: Wheelchairs, disability mobility devices.

Fine only, up to $300, for riding through the dismount zone instead of walking.

Loud Party Ordinance

A gathering of people engaged in loud, continuing activity between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. that runs 15 minutes and is audible 25 feet away, or inside a neighbor's home, is presumed unreasonable noise under Longmont Municipal Code § 10.20.090(D), and the city attorney can sue to shut it down as a public nuisance.

Key details: Trigger window: 10 p.m.-7 a.m., 15+ minutes. Audibility threshold: 25 feet from source, or inside neighbor's home. Who's liable: anyone who makes, permits or assists the noise. Special-event exception: permitted events, amplified sound 80 dB or less. City remedy: citation plus city attorney nuisance suit, § 10.20.110.

Longmont Police can cite a violation of § 10.20.090 under the Title 1.12.010 general penalty, up to a $500 fine and up to 90 days, since the noise chapter sets no separate criminal fine of its own. Separately, § 10.20.110 deems a violation of §§ 10.20.090 and 10.20.100 a public nuisance and authorizes the city attorney to sue in any court of competent jurisdiction to enjoin it, a tool aimed at a chronically loud address rather than a single citation.

The Bottom Line

Longmont is tougher than many cities when it comes to public conduct. Out of the 6 rules covered here, 3 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Longmont, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

All of the above reflects Longmont's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.