Public Conduct in Janesville, WI (2026)
6 verified public conduct rules for Janesville, Wisconsin, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Public Urination
In the City of Janesville, Section 24-215 of the Code of General Ordinances makes it unlawful to intentionally show bare buttocks, genitals or female nipples in a public place, defined by Section 24-214 to include streets, parks and other City property. The City's own Chronic Nuisance Premises ordinance, Section 24-293(1)(u), labels this offense 'indecent exposure and/or public urination,' the provision Janesville police cite for public urination complaints.
Janesville Public Nudity and Urination Ban
Significant RestrictionsJanesville Code of General Ordinances §§ 24-214, 24-215
The term "public place" means upon any public property owned by or open to the general public, such as a public park, beach, playground, school ground, street, highway, sidewalk, alley, greenbelt, and other public place held open to the general public ... No person, in a public place, as defined herein, may intentionally or knowingly engage in the actual:(1)Showing or revealing of a human bare ...
Skateboarding Rules
In the City of Janesville, Code § 38-611 bans skateboarding on any street, sidewalk, or public property within a defined downtown zone and on all City parking lots, with City-owned bike trails as the only exception, while sidewalks elsewhere require yielding to pedestrians under § 38-614.
Janesville Downtown Skateboard Ban
Significant RestrictionsJanesville Code of General Ordinances §§ 38-611, 38-614
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate, ride, ride upon, or propel a skateboard:(1)Upon any public street, highway, sidewalk, parking lot, or other public property of any kind within the following specifically defined area: the area bounded by North Academy Street from Centerway to Dodge Street ... and Centerway from North Parker Drive to North Academy Street.(2)City parking lots wherev...
Loitering Rules
In the City of Janesville, Section 24-449 of the Code of General Ordinances bars remaining in a group or crowd on public streets, sidewalks, doorways, crossings or bridges once a police officer has ordered the group to move and the gathering tends to provoke a disturbance. The Janesville Police Department enforces the rule under Chapter 24's Disturbing the Peace division, with forfeitures rising for repeat offenders.
Janesville Loitering After Police Dispersal Order
Some RestrictionsJanesville Code of General Ordinances §§ 24-449, 24-452
No person shall remain in a group or crowd upon the public streets, sidewalks, or adjacent doorways or entrances, street crossings or bridges or any other public place, under circumstances in which such conduct tends to cause or provoke a disturbance, after being requested to move by any police officer. ... Any person who violates any provision set forth in this division shall forfeit and pay t...
Outdoor Smoking Restrictions
In the City of Janesville, Section 24-333(b)(4) of the Code of General Ordinances bans smoking anywhere on City premises, including any building, parking ramp or lot, park or trail the City controls. Restaurants, taverns, private clubs and retail stores on that property may designate a reasonable outdoor smoking area away from entrances; violators face a $100 to $250 forfeiture under Section 24-336.
Janesville Outdoor Smoking Ban on City Property
Significant RestrictionsJanesville Code of General Ordinances § 24-333(b)(4)
(b)No person may smoke at any of the following outdoor locations: ... (4)Anywhere on City premises. This includes, but is not limited to, any premises containing a building, parking ramp or lot, or park or trail controlled by the City. If a restaurant, tavern, private club, or retail establishment is located within this area, the person in charge of such establishment may designate an outside a...
Public Marijuana Use
In the City of Janesville, Section 24-595 of the Code of General Ordinances bars possessing marijuana unless it was obtained from, or under a valid prescription from, a practitioner acting in professional practice, or otherwise authorized under Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 961. Because Wisconsin has not legalized recreational marijuana, smoking or otherwise using it in a park, street or other public place in Janesville violates this possession ban, enforced by the Janesville Police Department.
Janesville Marijuana Possession and Use Ban
Heavy RestrictionsJanesville Code of General Ordinances § 24-595
No person shall possess marijuana, as defined in Wis. Stats. § 961.01(14), unless it was obtained directly from, or pursuant to a valid prescription or order of, a practitioner who is acting in the course of his or her professional practice, or unless otherwise authorized by Wis. Stats. ch. 961, to possess marijuana.
Public Alcohol Use
In the City of Janesville, drinking or carrying an alcoholic beverage for immediate consumption on streets, sidewalks, parks, public parking lots, school property or other public property is prohibited under Code § 6-21. Carrying an open cup, can, glass or bottle of alcohol in those same places is itself a violation, even without proof of drinking.
Janesville Public Drinking Ban
Significant RestrictionsJanesville Code of General Ordinances § 6-21
(a)No person shall drink or carry for the purpose of immediate consumption any alcohol beverage upon the streets, sidewalks, parks, public parking lots, public school property or other public property or upon any private parking lot or any other private areas that are open to public use. ... (b)Any person carrying any open cup, can, glass, bottle or similar drinking vessel containing alcohol be...
Looking for Rock County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Janesville city rules.
Public Conduct in Rock County →