Public Conduct in Yakima, WA: What Residents Actually Need to Know

If you live in Yakima or are thinking about moving there, public conduct are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Yakima has 8 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of public conduct, and some of them might surprise you.

Public Urination

Yakima makes it a misdemeanor to urinate or defecate in any public place, or any place open or available to the public, unless the act happens inside a facility designed or provided for that purpose. The ban sits in Chapter 6.55, Offenses Against Public Decency and Morality, Yakima Municipal Code, Yakima County, Washington.

Key details: Citation: YMC § 6.55.040. Penalty: Up to 90 days jail, $1,000 fine (§6.02.050). Covers: Any public place or place open to the public. Exception: Facility designed or provided for the purpose. Chapter: Ch. 6.55, Public Decency and Morality.

A conviction under YMC § 6.55.040(B) is a criminal misdemeanor, not merely a ticket. Under the Title 6 general penalty at YMC § 6.02.050(A), a misdemeanor conviction carries up to ninety days in jail, a fine of up to one thousand dollars, or both. Section 6.55.040 sets no lesser infraction tier and no warning requirement.

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

Skateboarding Rules

Yakima bans roller skating, bicycling and skateboarding on any public or private sidewalk, mall or pedestrian way inside the city's Central Business District, and bans skateboarding on any roadway citywide except to cross a street. Both rules sit in Chapter 6.75 of the Yakima Municipal Code, Yakima County, Washington.

Key details: Citation: YMC § 6.75.040. CBD boundary: 6th Ave/Walnut St/6th St/Lincoln Ave (§9.10.010). Roadway rule: No skateboarding on any roadway (§6.75.030). 1st offense fine: $95 civil infraction. 3rd+ offense fine: $250 civil infraction.

A first skateboarding violation of the CBD sidewalk ban or citywide roadway ban under YMC § 6.75.070 is a civil infraction capped at ninety-five dollars; a second offense within a year rises to one hundred fifty dollars, and a third or later offense within that year rises to two hundred fifty dollars. Skateboarding itself is not charged as a misdemeanor under this chapter.

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

Jaywalking

Pedestrians in Yakima can't step off the curb into traffic between intersections in the central business district, any business district, on an arterial, or between signal- or stop-sign-protected intersections, unless they're in a marked crosswalk or another specially provided spot, under YMC § 9.50.320.

Key details: Covered zones: CBD, business districts, arterials, signal-protected blocks. Not covered: Unmarked residential blocks, no signals/stops. Legal crossing: Marked crosswalks or specially provided points. Companion rule: § 9.50.330 railroad crossing stop duty. Charge type: Traffic infraction, general Title 9 penalty.

A § 9.50.320 violation is a traffic infraction rather than a parking ticket, so it falls under YMC § 9.60.030's general Title 9 penalty scheme: absent a specifically listed fine, a conviction for violating any traffic-title provision carries up to a $500 fine, up to 90 days in jail, or both, though most pedestrian infractions in practice are processed as monetary traffic infractions rather than criminal charges.

Yakima is more permissive than most cities when it comes to jaywalking. That said, there are still limits.

Public Marijuana Use

Yakima has no standalone public-marijuana ordinance. Instead, YMC § 6.08.015 adopts a list of Revised Code of Washington sections by reference, including RCW 69.50.445, which bars opening a package of, or consuming, marijuana, usable marijuana or a marijuana-infused product in view of the general public. The adopted statute carries the same force as if the city had written it into the municipal code itself.

Key details: Governing section: YMC § 6.08.015. Mechanism: Adopts RCW 69.50.445 by reference. Prohibited: Opening/consuming marijuana in public view. Also adopted: RCW 69.50.4013, .4014, .412, .4121, .475. Update rule: Automatic with state amendments.

A person who opens a package of marijuana or consumes it in view of the general public within Yakima city limits is cited under the state penalty RCW 69.50.445 sets, enforced locally because YMC § 6.08.015 gives it 'the same force and effect as if set forth herein in full.' Related adopted sections allow separate paraphernalia or possession charges if those are also present.

Outdoor Smoking Restrictions

Yakima's Clean Indoor Air Act bans smoking in enclosed public places and workplaces and pushes smokers back 25 feet from entrances, exits and windows: it does not ban smoking in open-air parks generally.

Key details: Buffer distance: 25 feet from entrances/exits. Max civil fine: $100. Covers: Enclosed public places and workplaces. Buffer can shrink if: Owner proves smoke won't reach entrance.

Intentionally smoking in violation is a civil infraction carrying a fine of up to $100, enforced by local law enforcement issuing a notice of infraction, or by the local health department for owner/posting violations.

Public Alcohol Use

Yakima adopts RCW 66.44.100 by reference, making it unlawful to open a container of liquor or drink alcohol in any public place in the city, enforced under Yakima Municipal Code § 6.12.015.

Key details: What's banned: Opening/drinking liquor in public. Legal basis: RCW 66.44.100, adopted by reference. Local citation: YMC § 6.12.015. Enforced by: Yakima Police Department. Penalty basis: RCW 66.44.180, general penalties.

Enforced as an infraction under the adopted RCW 66.44.180 general penalty section, also adopted by reference in § 6.12.015; the fine follows the state schedule rather than a separately printed city amount.

Loud Party Ordinance

Yakima makes it a misdemeanor to run a party loud enough to be plainly audible 50 feet past your property line, covering music, sound systems and social gatherings under the city's public disturbance noise law.

Key details: Governing law: YMC § 6.04.180(D)(4). Audibility test: Plainly audible 50 feet from property line. Penalty: Misdemeanor. Relief option: Noise permit from code administration office.

Public disturbance noise is a misdemeanor citable by Yakima police on their own observation; each occurrence can be charged separately, and exceeding a granted permit's terms is a separate violation under § 6.04.180(G)(2).

Loitering Rules

Yakima bars loitering in public with the manifest purpose of soliciting prostitution, but officers must first let the person explain before an arrest can stand.

Key details: Offense class: Misdemeanor. Trigger: Manifest purpose of soliciting prostitution. Officer must: Offer chance to explain first. Related rule: Detention-facility loitering, § 6.48.070.

A conviction is a misdemeanor. No arrest may be made unless the officer first gives the person a chance to explain the conduct, and a true, lawful explanation defeats conviction.

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

The Bottom Line

Yakima is tougher than many cities when it comes to public conduct. Out of the 8 rules covered here, 3 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Yakima, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

These rules come from Yakima's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.