Public Conduct in Billings, MT (2026)
7 verified public conduct rules for Billings, Montana, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Aggressive Panhandling
Billings bans aggressive solicitation citywide and restricts commercial solicitation near ATMs, bus stops, and vehicles.
Aggressive Solicitation Ban in Billings
Significant RestrictionsSec. 18-1001
It shall be unlawful for any person to commercially solicit in any of the following manners:(1)By blocking the path of the person solicited; or(2)By following or walking alongside the person solicited; or(3)By using profane or abusive language, either during the solicitation or following refusal;(4)By accosting or forcing oneself upon the company of another;(5)By continuing to solicit a person ...
Public Urination
Billings makes it unlawful to urinate or defecate in any street, alley, or public place unless you're using a facility built for that purpose.
Billings Bans Public Urination
Some RestrictionsSec. 18-103, Billings City Code
It is unlawful for any person to urinate or defecate in any street, alley or public place except in a facility provided for that purpose. (Ord. No. 86-4714, § 1, 9-8-86; Ord. No. 19-5721, § 7, 1-14-19) Editor's note— Ord. No. 19-5721, § 7, adopted Jan. 14, 2019, renumbered § 18-309 as § 18-103 as set out herein. The historical notations have been kept with the amended provisions for refer...
Skateboarding Rules
Billings bans skateboarding on sidewalks and public property in a defined downtown business district and fines reckless riding elsewhere up to $300.
Skateboarding Rules in Billings
Significant RestrictionsSec. 24-612, Billings Municipal Code
No person shall ride a skateboard or other play vehicle upon any sidewalk or public property within the area of the city bounded by and including 32nd Street, 24th Street, 6th Avenue North and 1st Avenue South.
Loitering Rules
Billings makes it a misdemeanor to loiter or prowl in a manner that alarms others about safety, with a chance to explain yourself before arrest.
Billings Loitering & Prowling Ban
Some RestrictionsSec. 18-701
A person commits a violation if he loiters or prowls in a place, at a time, or in a manner not usual for law-abiding individuals under circumstances that warrant alarm for the safety of persons or property in the vicinity... A violation of this section is a misdemeanor with the penalties set forth in section 1-110.
Jaywalking
Billings pedestrians may not cross a roadway anywhere but a marked crosswalk once they're in the business district, Sec. 24-802 of the Municipal Code says flatly. The city administrator designates those crosswalks and safety zones under Sec. 24-801. Step off the curb mid-block downtown and you're violating city code, not just risking traffic: it's a misdemeanor under the Code's general penalty section, Sec. 1-110.
Billings Jaywalking Ban in Business District
Significant RestrictionsSec. 24-802; Sec. 24-801; Sec. 1-110(a)
Sec. 24-801. - Designation and maintenance of crosswalks and safety zones. The city administrator is authorized to: (1)Designate and maintain, by appropriate devices, marks or lines upon the surface of the roadway, crosswalks at intersections where in his opinion there is particular danger to pedestrians crossing the roadway, and at such other places as he or she may deem necessary... Sec. 24-8...
Public Marijuana Use
Smoking, consuming, or using marijuana openly in any public place is a misdemeanor under Billings' marijuana ordinance, with narrow carve-outs only for private residential property.
Billings Bans Public Marijuana Use
Significant RestrictionsSec. 7-2001(b), (b)(3)
(b)It shall be unlawful and a misdemeanor offense for any person to smoke, consume or use marijuana or marijuana products openly and publicly or in a manner that endangers others.(1)The term "openly" means occurring or existing in a manner that is unconcealed, undisguised, or obvious.(2)The term "publicly" means:a.Occurring or existing in a public place;b.Occurring or existing in any place that...
Public Alcohol Use
Billings bans drinking or carrying open alcoholic beverage containers anywhere in city limits, streets, parks, vehicles, under Sec. 3-202, unless a special event permit has been issued by the city administrator.
Billings Bans Public Drinking of Alcohol
Heavy RestrictionsSec. 3-202
Public drinking and public display and exhibitionism of alcoholic beverages as defined in section 3-201 is prohibited and it is unlawful for any person to engage in public drinking as defined in section 3-201 within the limits of the city, and it is unlawful for any person to engage in public display or exhibitionism of alcoholic beverages as defined in section 3-201 within the city limits.
Looking for Yellowstone County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Billings city rules.
Public Conduct in Yellowstone County →