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Public Conduct in Council Bluffs, IA (2026)

5 verified public conduct rules for Council Bluffs, Iowa, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Public Urination

In the City of Council Bluffs, CBMC Chapter 8.64 bans urinating, defecating, or spitting outside a proper sanitary facility on streets, sidewalks, public buildings, transit vehicles, or private property without the owner's consent. The rule dates to a 2001 ordinance and carries the city's standard misdemeanor penalty.

Council Bluffs Public Urination Ban

Some Restrictions

Council Bluffs Municipal Code §§ 8.64.010, 8.64.020

Except in facilities providing sanitary disposal of same, it is unlawful for any person to spit, expectorate, urinate, defecate, or to deposit spittle, saliva, urine or feces in the following places: On any street, alley, sidewalk or public places; On the floors, steps or aisles of any public buildings; On the floors, steps or aisles of any building owned, leased or used by the city of Council ...

Skateboarding Rules

Council Bluffs bans skateboarding, along with roller blading, roller skating, and riding a scooter or bicycle off the roadway, on public property inside a downtown 'Skateboard Free Zone' set out in CBMC 9.10.040. Riding a bicycle on the traffic portion of the street is still allowed inside the zone if all traffic laws are followed.

Council Bluffs Skateboard Free Zone Rules

Significant Restrictions

Council Bluffs Municipal Code §§ 9.10.020, 9.10.030, 9.10.040

No person, while on publicly owned property within the skateboard free zone, shall ride upon or move about upon skateboards, roller blades, roller skates, scooters, or bicycles. ... The operation of a bicycle upon the portion of the city street designed for vehicular traffic shall be permitted within the skateboard free zone, so long as all traffic laws are obeyed. ... The area designated as th...

Loitering Rules

In the City of Council Bluffs, CBMC 8.48.010 makes it unlawful for people to collect and loiter on a sidewalk or street corner in a way that annoys, hinders, or blocks pedestrians passing by. The century-old ordinance, dating to 1910, remains on the books and carries the city's standard misdemeanor penalty.

Council Bluffs Loitering and Obstruction Ban

Some Restrictions

Council Bluffs Municipal Code §§ 8.48.010, 8.48.020

It is unlawful for persons to collect, assemble or group together, and, after being so collected, assembled or grouped together, to stand or loiter on any sidewalk or at any street corner in front of any bank, business house, or at any other place in the city, to the annoyance, hindrance or obstruction to the free passage of any person or persons passing on or along any sidewalk or street in th...

Jaywalking

Council Bluffs bans mid-block jaywalking two ways under CBMC 9.20.080: pedestrians cannot cross anywhere but a marked crosswalk between signalized intersections, and thirteen named downtown streets, including all of Broadway, Washington Avenue, and Vine Street, are crosswalk-only for their entire length or a specified stretch. A violation is a misdemeanor under CBMC 9.20.090.

Council Bluffs Mid-Block Jaywalking Rules

Significant Restrictions

Council Bluffs Municipal Code §§ 9.20.080, 9.20.090

Between adjacent intersections at which time traffic control signals are in operation, pedestrians shall not cross at any place except in a crosswalk. No pedestrian shall cross a roadway other than in a crosswalk upon any of the following named streets: The entire length of Broadway The entire length of Washington Avenue The entire length of Vine Street The entire length of Mynster Street First...

Public Alcohol Use

In the City of Council Bluffs, an open container of liquor or beer is banned on public streets, parks, squares, and in city buildings, and drinking alcohol in public places without a liquor license is likewise unlawful under CBMC 8.10. A special open-air tavern carve-out still cuts off at set nightly hours.

Council Bluffs Open Container and Public Drinking

Some Restrictions

Council Bluffs Municipal Code §§ 8.10.010, 8.10.020, 8.10.040

It is unlawful for any person to possess or have control of an open container of intoxicating liquor or beer upon a public street, park or square, or within any city building if such possession is not authorized or permitted by law. ... It is unlawful for any person to use or consume alcoholic liquor or beer upon the public streets or highways or any public place, except premises covered by a l...