Salt Lake City's Public Conduct: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles public conduct a little differently. In Salt Lake City, Utah, 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

Salt Lake City makes it unlawful to urinate or defecate in any place open to public view, alongside other disorderly public conduct.

Key details: Governing section: § 11.16.100. Penalty class: Class B misdemeanor. Max fine: $1,000. Max jail: 6 months.

Class B misdemeanor: fine up to $1,000, up to 6 months jail, or both.

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

Skateboarding Rules

Skateboards, roller skates, and scooters are banned on downtown and Sugar House district sidewalks and on all roadways except crosswalks and bike lanes.

Key details: Roadway use: Only crosswalks or bike lanes. Sidewalk ban zones: Central traffic district, Sugar House district. Covers: Skateboards, skates, scooters, coasters. Exempt: On-duty police officers.

Infraction; general traffic-title fine under Section 1.12.050 (no skateboard-specific misdemeanor listed).

Jaywalking

Salt Lake City bans crossing outside a crosswalk unless the nearest crosswalk is 700+ feet away, and requires marked crosswalks between signaled intersections.

Key details: Governing section: § 12.76.010. No-crosswalk exception radius: 700 feet. Enforcement classification: Civil violation. Applies on: Through streets, signaled blocks.

Civil violation citywide per § 12.12.015; cited crossing outside a crosswalk pays a fine set by the city's civil violation fine schedule, not a criminal charge.

Loud Party Ordinance

Salt Lake City fines property owners, not just partygoers, when police find an unruly gathering on their land: a warning notice first, then a $1,000 civil citation for a repeat within a year.

Key details: Trigger: 3+ people, disturbance observed by police. First violation: Written warning notice to owner. Repeat within 365 days: $1,000 civil fine. Liable party: Property owner of record. Penalty type: Civil only, no criminal charge.

First offense: written warning notice mailed to the property owner of record. Second offense at the same premises within 365 days: administrative citation plus a $1,000 civil fine against the owner, issued no sooner than 14 days after the warning notice.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Salt Lake City actively enforces its loud party ordinance requirements.

Outdoor Smoking Restrictions

Salt Lake City bans smoking in all city parks, cemeteries, trails, and golf courses, plus near bus stops, mass gatherings, and light rail stations.

Key details: Covers: parks, cemeteries, trails, golf courses. Bus stop buffer: 25 feet. Mass gathering buffer: 50 feet. Max fine: $25, no imprisonment. First offense: warning allowed at officer discretion.

Infraction, fine up to $25, no jail time; officers may issue a warning instead for a first offense.

Loitering Rules

Salt Lake City makes it unlawful to stand, sit, or lie on a sidewalk for more than two minutes if it blocks pedestrian passage, or to stay there past one minute after a police officer orders you to move.

Key details: Time limit: 2 minutes obstructing sidewalk passage. After police order: 1 minute to move or comply. Citation: Salt Lake City Code § 14.20.100. Default penalty: class B misdemeanor, § 1.12.050.

No penalty is set in section 14.20.100, so it defaults to a class B misdemeanor under section 1.12.050: up to a $1,000 fine, up to six months in jail, or both.

Public Alcohol Use

Salt Lake City bans opening, possessing, or drinking from an open alcohol container in unpermitted public places like streets, sidewalks, and public property.

Key details: Governing section: § 11.12.065. Penalty: Class C misdemeanor. Covers: Streets, sidewalks, public property. Exception: Licensed/permitted premises.

Violating the open container ban is a class C misdemeanor, the city's lowest misdemeanor tier.

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

The Bottom Line

Salt Lake City is tougher than many cities when it comes to public conduct. Out of the 7 rules covered here, 3 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Salt Lake City, 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 Salt Lake City 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.