Public Conduct in Durham County, NC (2026)
3 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Durham County, North Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Loitering Rules
Durham County bans loitering and congregating on the property of its residential convenience centers, the county-run drop-off sites unincorporated residents use for household garbage and recycling. Code Sec. 20-11(e) also forbids leaving any vehicle unattended there. General Services staff enforce the rule alongside a 3 mph site speed limit and a full civil penalty schedule for violators.
Loitering Ban at Durham County Waste Centers
Some RestrictionsDurham County Code § 20-11(e)
No person shall loiter and/or congregate on any of the residential convenience centers property and no vehicles shall be left unattended on said property.(f)Residential containers shall not be used by licensed solid waste collectors as a means of disposal for solid waste collected from commercial, institutional, industrial, or residential customers.(g)No person shall remove any contents from th...
Outdoor Smoking Restrictions
Durham County outlaws smoking, including e-cigarettes, across a long list of outdoor and indoor public spaces, from county grounds and trails to bus stops and sidewalks. Sec. 17-93 was adopted jointly by the county Board of Health and the Board of County Commissioners, and it names Durham County grounds and Durham County trails and parks specifically, not just city parkland.
Smoking Ban on Durham County Grounds
Significant RestrictionsDurham County Code Sec. 17-93
Smoking, including e-cigarettes, is prohibited in/on all of the following: (1)City of Durham grounds;(2)City of Durham parks system including playgrounds and athletic fields;(3)City or county bus stops;(4)Durham County grounds;(5)Durham Station Transportation Center (except as specifically designated);(6)Sidewalks as defined above;(7)Hospital grounds;(8)Child care facilities;(9)Enclosed shoppin...
Public Alcohol Use
Durham County bans consuming or possessing an open container of any alcoholic beverage anywhere on county-owned or controlled property, including buildings, parking lots, recreational areas and Durham County Memorial Stadium. Sec. 3-31 also bars bringing alcohol into a county facility during an event and discarding beverage containers on public streets or another's private property without permission.
Durham County Open Container and Alcohol Ban
Significant RestrictionsDurham County Code § 3-31
(a)Possession and consumption. Except as otherwise provided in this Code, it shall be unlawful for any person to consume, or possess open containers of, wine (fortified or unfortified), malt beverages, spiritous liquors, or other alcoholic beverages, or to offer same to another person, whether accepted or not, anywhere on the premises (including streets, drives and parking areas used in connect...
Public Conduct by City in Durham County
1 cities in Durham County have their own public conduct rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Durham County ordinances
See every category we cover for Durham County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Durham County Ordinance Hub →