Public Conduct in Evanston, IL (2026)
9 verified public conduct rules for Evanston, Illinois, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Aggressive Panhandling
Evanston bans panhandling or soliciting "in an aggressive manner" under City Code Section 9-5-25(C), defining eight specific aggressive acts: cornering someone at an ATM, repeating a request after a stationary person refuses, touching someone without consent, blocking a path or entrance, following a person, using profane or abusive language, and behavior that would make a reasonable person feel harassed or intimidated. Violations are a public nuisance punishable by a fine or community service.
Evanston Aggressive Panhandling Ban
Significant RestrictionsEvanston City Code § 9-5-25(C)
(C)Aggressive Panhandling or Soliciting Prohibited. It shall be unlawful to engage in an act of panhandling or soliciting in an aggressive manner. A person's manner is aggressive if the person engages in any of the following actions:1.Panhandling or soliciting a person who is standing at an automated teller machine while located within ten (10) feet of that person.2.Panhandling or soliciting a ...
Public Urination
Urinating or defecating on an Evanston street, sidewalk, park, or other public place -- or anywhere in public view -- is unlawful, enforced under the City's general penalty provision.
Evanston Public Urination Ban
Some RestrictionsEvanston City Code § 9-5-11(B)
It shall be unlawful for any person to urinate or defecate:1.In or on a public street, alley, sidewalk, yard, park, building, structure, plaza, public or utility right-of-way, or other public place; or2.In public view.(a)It shall be a defense to prosecution for urinating or defecating that the person was in a restroom. (Ord. No. 74-0-04; Ord. No. 35-0-10, § 1, 8-2-10; Ord. No. 8-O-12, (49-O-11...
Skateboarding Rules
Evanston City Code Section 7-10-3(C) bars skateboards from every tennis court and basketball court the City operates, alongside bicycles, motorized vehicles, rollerblades, skates and scooters. The same section caps basketball play to 8:00 a.m. through 9:00 p.m. City Manager designees, including Parks and Recreation staff, enforce the rule under Section 7-10-6, and violators face the Code's general penalty.
Evanston Bans Skateboards On Court Surfaces
Some RestrictionsEvanston City Code § 7-10-3(C), (G)
(C)Prohibitions On Tennis And Basketball Courts. No skateboards, bicycles, motorized vehicles, rollerblades/skates or scooters are permitted on tennis courts or basketball courts....(G)Hours Of Play. Use of basketballs on basketball courts is permitted only between the hours of eight o'clock (8:00) A.M. to nine o'clock (9:00) P.M.
Loud Party Ordinance
Two noise citations at the same Evanston address within twelve months lets the City declare the property a "nuisance premises," putting mandatory abatement duties on the owner, manager, or occupant.
Evanston Nuisance Premises Noise Rule
Significant RestrictionsEvanston City Code § 9-5-4(E), (G)
NON-AGGRAVATED OFFENSE: Two (2) or more of the following offenses supported by underlying proof of the specified activity occurred beyond an arrest or citation issued during any twelve (12) month period... 11. City Code Section 9-5-20, "Noises Prohibited"... NUISANCE PREMISES DECLARED: Any premises with one or more aggravated offenses at any time or two (2) or more non-aggravated offenses in a ...
Loitering Rules
Evanston bars anyone without school business from loitering, wandering, or trespassing on public school grounds while school is in session, targeting non-students and non-employees under Municipal Code Section 9-11-3.
Evanston School Grounds Loitering Ban
Some RestrictionsEvanston City Code § 9-11-3
It shall be unlawful for a person to loiter, idle, wander, stroll, play or trespass in or about the public school lands or buildings during the school year or whenever school is in session or while school-sponsored activities are taking place on school grounds if said person is not enrolled in the public schools, is not employed by the public schools, or has no bona fide business with a student...
Outdoor Smoking Restrictions
Evanston's Clean Air Act bans smoking on beaches, at playgrounds and tot lots, and at City-licensed sidewalk cafes under City Code § 8-18-5, and Section 8-18-6 adds a twenty-five foot buffer around the doors, windows and air intakes of any building where smoking is already prohibited.
Evanston Outdoor Public Smoking Restrictions
Significant RestrictionsEvanston City Code § 8-18-5, § 8-18-6
Smoking shall be prohibited in the following places: Beaches. Playgrounds and tot lots. Sidewalk cafes licensed by the City. Sports arenas or recreational areas, including, without limitation, enclosed places in outdoor arenas...Smoking is prohibited within twenty five feet (25') of any entrances, exits, windows that open, ventilation intakes, or other means by which smoke may infiltrate into a...
Jaywalking
Evanston pedestrians must cross at right angles or use a crosswalk under two rules in City Code Title 10, Chapter 7. Section 10-7-1 requires right-angle crossing absent a marked crosswalk, and Section 10-7-2 bans crossing outside a crosswalk in any business district or on a through street marked with a crosswalk. Violations carry the citywide general penalty of $20 to $750.
Evanston Jaywalking and Crosswalk Rules
Some RestrictionsEvanston City Code § 10-7-1, § 10-7-2
Except where otherwise indicated by a crosswalk or other official traffic-control devices, a pedestrian shall cross a roadway at right angles to the curb or by the shortest route to the opposite curb. ... (A)No pedestrian shall cross a roadway other than in a crosswalk in any business district.(B)No pedestrian shall cross a roadway other than in a crosswalk upon any through street marked with a...
Public Marijuana Use
Evanston's Clean Air Act bans smoking "weed, plant or other organic substance" intended for smoking, covering cannabis, across a long list of public places under Section 8-18-5, including beaches, playgrounds, sidewalk cafes and shopping malls. Smoking is further barred within 25 feet of doors, windows and air intakes under Section 8-18-6. Violators face a $100-$500 infraction fine, with steeper fines for property owners who fail to enforce it.
Evanston Public Cannabis Smoking Ban
Significant RestrictionsEvanston City Code § 8-18-3, § 8-18-5
SMOKE or SMOKING: Inhaling, exhaling, or carrying any lighted and/or burning smoking materials. ... SMOKING MATERIALS: Any cigar, cigarette, pipe, weed, plant or other organic substance grown, manufactured or processed which is intended to be used for smoking in any form. "Smoking materials" do not include candles, incense or other similar items. ... Smoking shall be prohibited in the following...
Public Alcohol Use
Evanston bars drinking or carrying an open container of alcohol in parks, streets, sidewalks, and other public property, with fines of $500 to $750 per offense.
Evanston Public Alcohol Possession Ban
Significant RestrictionsEvanston City Code § 9-5-10(A)(2)
no person shall consume alcoholic beverages in public buildings, parks, beaches, highways, streets, alleys, sidewalks, parkways, and public parking lots. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, service of alcoholic beverages at a sidewalk cafe authorized for such service pursuant to Subsection 7-2-6(D) of this Code and possession and consumption of alcoholic beverages by patrons at such cafes sha...
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