Public Conduct in Los Angeles, CA: What Residents Actually Need to Know

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

Public Urination

LAMC § 41.47.2 prohibits urinating or defecating on any public street, sidewalk, alley, plaza, beach, park, or other publicly maintained place, or anywhere open to or visible from the public, except in an enclosed restroom or properly enclosed portable toilet.

Key details: Section: LAMC § 41.47.2 (added Ord. No. 175,626, eff. 12/16/03). Prohibited locations: Public streets, sidewalks, alleys, plazas, beaches, parks, public buildings, and any place open to or visible from the public. Exception: Enclosed restroom or enclosed portable toilet designed for waste disposal.

Violation is subject to the general penalty provisions of LAMC § 11.00 (misdemeanor or infraction).

Aggressive Panhandling

LAMC § 41.59 prohibits soliciting, asking, or begging in an aggressive manner in any public place, and separately bans all solicitation within 15 feet of bank entrances and ATMs, in public parking lots after dark, and on public transportation vehicles.

Key details: Section: LAMC § 41.59 (amended Ord. No. 173,705, eff. 1/27/01). Bank / ATM buffer: 15 feet from any entrance or ATM. Parking lot restriction: All solicitation banned after dark. Public transit prohibition: Soliciting on any public transportation vehicle is a violation. Penalty: Misdemeanor or infraction at City Attorney's discretion.

Violation is punishable as a misdemeanor or infraction, at the City Attorney's discretion, under LAMC § 11.00.

Outdoor Smoking Restrictions

LAMC § 41.50 prohibits smoking, including vaping and any electronic smoking device, in outdoor dining areas, City-owned buildings, and City-permitted farmers markets. Outdoor dining areas include all non-enclosed space within 10 feet of any area regularly used for consuming food or drinks.

Key details: Section: LAMC § 41.50 (amended Ord. No. 187,525, eff. 7/16/22). Covers e-cigarettes / vapes: Yes: explicitly included in 'Smoking' definition. Outdoor dining area definition: Dedicated dining space plus all non-enclosed areas within 10 feet. Food truck / kiosk buffer: 40-foot radius around the business. Penalty: Infraction.

Violation is an infraction under LAMC § 41.50(D). Willful mutilation or destruction of required no-smoking signs is also unlawful.

Loud Party Ordinance

LAMC § 41.58.1 prohibits loud or unruly gatherings at residences and imposes escalating administrative fines starting at $100 for a first violation and reaching $8,000 for a sixth or subsequent violation. Owners of the property where the gathering occurs may be cited even if they were not present.

Key details: Section: LAMC § 41.58.1 (added Ord. No. 185,451, eff. 4/15/18). 1st violation fine: $100. 2nd violation fine: $500. 3rd violation fine: $1,000. 6th and later violation fine: $8,000 each.

First violation: $100. Second: $500. Third: $1,000. Fourth: $2,000. Fifth: $4,000. Sixth and beyond: $8,000 each. Removing posted notice: $500. Violations may also be prosecuted as misdemeanors under LAMC § 11.00(m).

Public Alcohol Use

Drinking any beverage over one-half of one percent alcohol on an LA street, sidewalk, park, playground or the Coliseum is banned outright under LAMC § 41.27(c), unless the specific spot is licensed for on-site consumption. A related rule bars carrying an opened container onto the sidewalk or lot right outside a liquor store, making that violation an infraction.

Key details: Alcohol threshold: Over 0.5% ABV by volume. Covered public places: Streets, sidewalks, parks, Coliseum. Open container near liquor stores: Infraction under § 41.27(d). Licensee posting duty: Must post warning signs, § 41.27(e). Struck-down subsection: § 41.27(h) unconstitutional (Duran).

Drinking in public under § 41.27(c) is enforced by LAPD as a violation of this section; carrying an open container onto a posted liquor store's adjacent lot or sidewalk under § 41.27(d) is expressly made an infraction, as is a licensee's failure to post the required warning signs under § 41.27(e). The broader possession-based ban in former subsection (h) is unenforceable following Duran.

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

Loitering Rules

Loitering inside a Los Angeles railway station, electric railway station, airport or bus depot, or on the common carrier's adjacent grounds, is unlawful under LAMC § 42.11.1, unless the person is there to meet or see off a traveler. The ban doesn't reach restaurants or other independent businesses operating inside the same facility.

Key details: Where it applies: Rail/electric rail stations, airports, bus depots. Also covers: Common carrier grounds adjacent to the facility. Exception: Meeting or seeing off a traveler. Excluded: Restaurants/other businesses inside the same facility. Charge type: Misdemeanor or infraction, City Attorney's choice.

A person cited for loitering under § 42.11.1, for example, someone found repeatedly loafing in an airport lobby with no travel purpose and no relative to meet, is subject to LAMC § 11.00(m), which makes violating any Municipal Code provision a misdemeanor or infraction; the City Attorney can charge either, and continuing conduct can draw the Code's standard civil penalties as well.

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

Skateboarding Rules

Skateboarders on LA public property must ride in the upright standing position, obey all traffic controls, and avoid reckless operation that endangers others or obstructs public use. The City Council may designate specific locations where skateboarding is prohibited entirely.

Key details: Riding position required: Upright, standing only. Intersection speed limit: 10 mph at uncontrolled intersections. Towing/attachment: Prohibited: cannot attach to or be towed by motor vehicles. Penalty: Infraction; fine set by City Council. Location bans: City Council may designate prohibited areas by ordinance.

Violations are infractions with fines set by City Council. Under LAMC § 56.15.2 (a specific designated prohibition on Hermano Drive), the first violation is a $50 infraction and subsequent violations are $100 infractions.

The rules around skateboarding rules in Los Angeles lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

The Bottom Line

Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles, 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 Los Angeles'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.