Upland, CA Public Conduct: Public Alcohol Use (2026)
Key Facts
- Open container ban
- all public streets, sidewalks, parks
- Public intoxication
- also prohibited citywide
- Park-specific ban
- 12 named parks, infraction
- Exception
- city-supervised or -permitted events
- Downtown exception
- Entertainment Zone permitted events only
- Governing section
- UMC § 9.16.020
Summary
Upland Municipal Code § 9.16.020 bans drinking or possessing an opened alcoholic beverage on public streets, sidewalks, parking lots, parks, and other public places within the city, and separately bans public intoxication. The prohibition also reaches city-owned buildings, with an exception for events the city supervises or permits.
A. It is unlawful for any person to drink or consume any alcoholic beverage, or possess any can, bottle or other receptacle containing any alcoholic beverage which has been opened, or a seal broken, or the contents of which have been partially removed, while in or on any public street, alley, way, public sidewalk, public or private parking lot, public restroom, vacant lot, vacant tenements, unoccupied land, parkway, playground, or park within the city, or within any building owned by or leased to the city, except when such consumption or possession takes place at any event supervised and/or permitted by the city.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4480959; v4 updated 2025-09-22).
Full Breakdown
16, Alcoholic Beverages, governs public drinking citywide. 020(A) makes it unlawful to drink or consume any alcoholic beverage, or to possess any can, bottle, or other receptacle containing an alcoholic beverage that has been opened, had its seal broken, or had its contents partially removed, while on any public street, alley, way, public sidewalk, public or private parking lot, public restroom, vacant lot, vacant tenement, unoccupied land, parkway, playground, or park within the city, or within any building owned or leased by the city. The only exception is consumption or possession at an event the city supervises and/or permits.
020(C) confirms the rule applies whether or not the person is in a vehicle. 040 requires the city to post signs in those parks stating the prohibition. 18 carves out a narrow exception: within the city's designated Downtown Entertainment Zone and only during an approved entertainment zone event under a special event permit, patrons may carry an open container purchased from a participating bar, restaurant, brewery, or winery onto the adjoining public streets and sidewalks.
Violations & Fines
Public consumption or possession of an open container under Section 9.16.020 is a general code violation, and the standalone park-specific ban in Section 9.16.030 is expressly punishable as an infraction. Enforcement falls to the Upland Police Department, which can cite or arrest for public intoxication under Section 9.16.020(B) in addition to any open-container citation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drink a beer while walking on an Upland sidewalk?
Are Upland's public parks under a separate alcohol rule?
Is open-container drinking ever allowed in downtown Upland?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Upland
California rules heatmap·Compare Upland to another location·View the California public conduct overview
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Public Alcohol Use in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Bernardino County handle public alcohol use.