Public Conduct in Alexandria, VA (2026)
6 verified public conduct rules for Alexandria, Virginia, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Public Urination
Alexandria treats urinating or defecating in a public place, or anywhere exposed to public view, as disorderly conduct when done with intent to cause public inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, or while recklessly creating that risk. City Code Sec. 13-1-30(a)(3) covers streets, sidewalks, waterways and open ground, and a conviction is a class 3 misdemeanor.
Alexandria Public Urination Disorderly Conduct Ban
Some RestrictionsAlexandria City Code Sec. 13-1-30(a)(3)
(a)A person is guilty of disorderly conduct if, with the intent to cause public inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, or recklessly creating a risk thereof, he:...(3)urinates or defecates in any public place or in any place open to the public or exposed to public view or upon the surface of the ground or upon any premises, lot or in any building, basement or in any public street, or into any stand...
Skateboarding Rules
Riding a skateboard, moped, bicycle or other micromobility device anywhere in Alexandria's Market Square is unlawful under City Code § 6-1-4. The plaza, bounded by King Street, City Hall and the 100 blocks of North Royal and North Fairfax Streets, also bans motor vehicles, headset-free music and damaging city property.
Alexandria Market Square Skateboard Ban
Significant RestrictionsAlexandria City Code § 6-1-4
It shall be unlawful for any person to ride any moped, skateboard, bicycle, or micromobility device, as defined in section 10-1-1 of this code, or to use or operate any motor vehicle, as defined in section 46.1-1, Code of Virginia (1950), as amended, or for any person to willfully or maliciously injure or deface any real or personal property of the city or property lawfully on display or loaned...
Loitering Rules
Alexandria makes it unlawful to stand, assemble or loiter on a sidewalk, street or public way so as to block passage, and requires the group to disperse when asked by a property owner or police officer. The same section bans sleeping in a public park, square or sidewalk area between 8:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. Violations are a class 3 misdemeanor under City Code Sec. 13-1-24.
Alexandria Loitering or Prowling Ban
Some RestrictionsAlexandria City Code Sec. 13-1-24
(a)It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to stand, assemble or loiter upon any sidewalk, street, public ground or public way in the city so as to obstruct, hinder or impede free passage upon or along same or obstruct, hinder or impede free ingress or egress to and from any place of business, institution or public building or property. No person or persons so assembled shall refuse or n...
Outdoor Smoking Restrictions
Alexandria does not ban smoking in parks or on sidewalks, but City Code Sec. 11-10-3.1(d) requires every restaurant with outdoor seating to designate at least one outdoor no-smoking area covering 25 percent of its outdoor seats, with each zone holding a minimum of 10 seats or 10 percent of outdoor capacity, whichever is larger.
Alexandria Restaurant Outdoor No-Smoking Areas
Light RestrictionsCity of Alexandria, VA Code Sec. 11-10-3.1(d) - Designated no-smoking areas in restaurants
(d)Any restaurant with outdoor seating shall have one (1) or more designated outdoor no-smoking areas in which smoking shall be prohibited. Such no-smoking area or areas shall consist of at least 25 percent of the outdoor seating capacity of the restaurant; provided, that no single no-smoking area shall consist of fewer than 10 seats or 10 percent of the outdoor seating capacity of the restaura...
Jaywalking
Alexandria requires pedestrians to obey posted traffic signs and police directions under City Code § 10-5-4, and bars starting to cross once a "Wait" or "Don't Walk" signal shows under § 10-5-5, each punishable by a fine of up to $5 per offense.
Alexandria Jaywalking & Signal Crossing Rules
Some RestrictionsAlexandria City Code §§ 10-5-4, 10-5-5
Sec. 10-5-4 - Obedience to traffic signs. Pedestrians shall obey signs and signals erected on the streets and shall obey the orders of police officers engaged in directing travel and traffic on such streets. Any person convicted of violating this section shall be fined not more than $5 for each separate offense. ... Sec. 10-5-5 - Pedestrian "walk-and-wait" signals; penalty for violation. (a)......
Public Alcohol Use
Alexandria bans possessing an open container of alcohol in any public park, playground, street, alley, sidewalk or parking lot open to the public, or inside a vehicle parked or driving on such areas. Violators face a class 4 misdemeanor, punishable by a fine up to $250. City Code Sec. 13-1-5.1 exempts licensed on-premises bars and ABC-permitted special events.
Alexandria Open Container of Alcohol Ban
Some RestrictionsAlexandria City Code Sec. 13-1-5.1
(a)It shall be unlawful for any person, while in the city, to possess an open or opened receptacle containing an alcoholic beverage (i) in or on any publicly or privately owned park, playground, street, alley, sidewalk or other pedestrian walkway or parking lot to which the public has, or is permitted to have, access, or (ii) in a motor vehicle located on any such street, alley or parking lot, ...