Public Conduct in Dubuque, IA (2026)
6 verified public conduct rules for Dubuque, Iowa, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Public Urination
Dubuque City Code section 7-5A-9, adopted by Ordinance 18-16 on May 16, 2016, makes it unlawful to urinate or defecate on any public or common property, including streets, alleys and sidewalks, or in any other place where the person could reasonably expect to be seen by the public. Private restrooms and public facilities designated for that purpose are excluded from the ban.
Dubuque Public Urination and Defecation Ban
Heavy RestrictionsDubuque City Code § 7-5A-9
It shall be unlawful for any person to urinate or defecate in or upon any public or common property including, but not limited to, streets, alleys, sidewalks or in any other place where the person could reasonably expect to be seen by the public. This section shall not apply to private restrooms or public facilities designated for such purpose.
Skateboarding Rules
Dubuque bans skateboards, roller skates, and other wheeled recreational conveyances from every municipal parking ramp and municipal parking lot under City Code section 9-7-321.276. The city manager can also post signs closing specific areas of the city to skateboarding, skating, and bicycle or scooter riding, and it becomes unlawful to skateboard there once those signs go up. Violators face a twenty five dollar scheduled fine.
Dubuque Skateboarding In Parking Ramps And Lots
Significant RestrictionsDubuque City Code § 9-7-321.276
9-7-321.276: USE OF CERTAIN NONMOTORIZED VEHICLES, CONVEYANCES, AND EQUIPMENT IN MUNICIPAL PARKING RAMPS OR LOTS AND IN CERTAIN OTHER PLACES IN CITY: ... A. No person shall be upon and make use of roller skates, skateboards, bicycles, or other wheeled recreational vehicles or conveyances within any municipal parking ramp or municipal parking lot. This provision shall not apply to use of a wheel...
Loud Party Ordinance
Dubuque's Social Host Responsibility article makes anyone who controls a party premises legally responsible for stopping underage drinking there. Hosts must actively check ID and control access, or face a municipal infraction plus a bill for police and fire response costs.
Social Host Liability Law in Dubuque, Iowa
Significant RestrictionsDubuque City Code § 7-5E-3
7-5E-3: SOCIAL HOST DUTIES: ... It is the duty of the social host of an event, gathering, or party to take all reasonable steps to prevent alcoholic beverages from being possessed or consumed by underage persons on the premises. Reasonable steps include, but are not limited to: A. Controlling underage persons' access to alcoholic beverages; ... ... D. Supervising the activities of underage pers...
Loitering Rules
Dubuque City Code section 7-5A-7 bans loitering in or near any public place when the circumstances show a purpose of soliciting prostitution, or of intimidation, disorderly conduct, drug sale, drug use or drug distribution. Police weigh listed circumstances, such as known prior arrests, gang affiliation, repeatedly stopping passersby or vehicles, or remaining in a group of three or more where disorderly conduct has recently occurred, before making an arrest.
Dubuque Loitering for Illegal Purposes Ban
Some RestrictionsDubuque City Code § 7-5A-7
A. Prostitution: ... 2. Prohibition: ... No person shall loiter in or near any public place in a manner and under circumstances manifesting the purpose of selling, inducting, enticing, soliciting or procuring another to commit an act of prostitution. Among the circumstances which may be considered in determining whether such purpose is manifested are that such person: a. Is a known prostitute o...
Jaywalking
Within two hundred feet of a marked crosswalk, Dubuque City Code section 9-8-321.328 requires pedestrians to cross at that crosswalk rather than mid-block. Cross more than two hundred feet from a marked crosswalk, or in an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, and the pedestrian must instead yield the right of way to every vehicle on the roadway. The rule sits in the code's Pedestrians' Rights And Duties chapter.
Dubuque Jaywalking Crosswalk Use Rule
Some RestrictionsDubuque City Code § 9-8-321.328
9-8-321.328: USE OF CROSSWALKS: A. Within two hundred feet (200') of any marked crosswalk in the city of Dubuque, pedestrians must use the marked crosswalk to cross the roadway. B. Pedestrians shall move, whenever practicable, upon the right half of crosswalks. C. Every pedestrian crossing a street at any point more than two hundred feet (200') from a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked cros...
Public Alcohol Use
Dubuque bans drinking or possessing alcoholic liquor, wine or beer on public streets, highways or any other public place under Dubuque City Code § 4-2A-6, unless the spot is covered by a liquor control license. The same section separately bars possessing or consuming alcohol on public or private K-12 school property or at school-related functions.
Dubuque Public Alcohol Consumption Ban
Heavy RestrictionsDubuque City Code § 4-2A-6
It is unlawful for any person to use or consume alcoholic liquors, wine or beer upon the public streets or highways or alcoholic beverages in any public place except premises covered by a liquor control license, or to possess or consume alcoholic liquors, wine, or beer on any public school property or while attending any public or private school related functions. As used in this section, "scho...