Public Conduct in Salem, OR (2026)
5 verified public conduct rules for Salem, Oregon, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Public Urination
Salem makes it unlawful to intentionally or recklessly urinate or defecate anywhere in public except a restroom or toilet facility built for that purpose. The rule sits in the city's miscellaneous offenses chapter alongside disorderly conduct and applies citywide, including downtown sidewalks, parks and transit stops.
Salem Bans Public Urination and Defecation
Some RestrictionsSalem Revised Code Sec. 95.125
It shall be unlawful for any person to intentionally or recklessly urinate or defecate in any public place except a restroom or toilet facility maintained for such purposes.
Skateboarding Rules
Salem bans skateboarding outright in a defined downtown zone bounded by Union, Trade, Cottage, and Front streets, plus the Civic Center, the Liberty, Chemeketa, and Pringle parking structures, Center 50+, posted private property, and any City park where park rules forbid it, under SRC 103.015. Breaking the rule is an infraction with a fine up to $110.
Salem Skateboarding Ban in Downtown Business District
Significant RestrictionsSRC § 103.015
(a)Notwithstanding any other provision in this chapter, no person shall skateboard in the following areas:(1)In or upon any of the alleys or sidewalks within the area bounded on the north by Union Street, on the south by the south line of Trade Street, on the east by Cottage Street and on the west by Front Street, but excepting those sidewalks contiguous to and located within Marion Square Park...
Loitering Rules
Salem does not have a general adult loitering ban; its loitering rule is narrow, barring anyone under 18 from going into, visiting, or loitering in or about a gambling house. It sits in the same miscellaneous-offenses chapter as the city's curfew and disorderly-conduct rules.
Salem Bars Minors From Loitering at Gambling Houses
Light RestrictionsSalem Revised Code Sec. 95.390
It shall be unlawful for any minor under the age of 18 years to go into, visit, or loiter in or about any gambling house.
Outdoor Smoking Restrictions
Salem prohibits smoking on all city-owned designated park property, including Geer Park, under Salem Revised Code 45.025. The Director also may designate smoke-free sidewalks and landscape strips next to businesses that have adopted a written No Smoking Policy. Violators face escalating infraction fines under the chapter's penalty section.
Salem Bans Smoking in City Parks
Significant RestrictionsSalem Revised Code § 45.025(b)
Smoking prohibited on city-owned park property. Smoking shall be prohibited on all city-owned designated park property, including Geer Park, and excluding from the prohibition that portion of the Civic Center Complex beginning at the northern boundary of the paved public plaza north of the Council Chambers, between Liberty Road SE and Commercial Street SE, south to Leslie Street SE.
Public Alcohol Use
Salem makes it unlawful to drink alcoholic liquor on any public street, alley, or public way unless the premises hold a City-issued permit for it. A related rule bars standing or loitering while drinking, or serving someone who is loitering, in any hallway, stairway or public place of business.
Salem Bans Drinking Alcohol on Public Streets
Some RestrictionsSalem Revised Code Sec. 90.020(a)-(b)
It shall be unlawful for any person to drink alcoholic liquor upon any public street, alley or public way, save and except those licensed premises who have obtained the appropriate permit from the City. It shall be unlawful for any person to sell or serve alcoholic liquor to any person who is standing or loitering in, on, around or about any stairway, aisle, hallway or public place of business ...
Looking for Marion County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Salem city rules.
Public Conduct in Marion County →