Fresno County, CA Public Conduct: Public Urination (2026)
Key Facts
- Rule
- No urinating/defecating on public property
- Companion rule
- No bathing in public fountains/water features
- Effective
- Ord. No. 24-013, 8-20-2024
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor, up to 6 months and/or $500
Summary
Fresno County makes it a misdemeanor to urinate or defecate on public property that is not a designated restroom, alongside a companion ban on bathing in public fountains or water features, both added to the county's 2024 public-rights-of-way ordinance.
It is unlawful and a violation of this code to bathe in public fountains or other public water features or conveyances. It is unlawful and a violation of this code to urinate or defecate upon public property not designated as a restroom facility.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 51).
Full Breakdown
70's catch-all 'other public offenses' provision, state two separate rules back to back: it is unlawful to bathe in public fountains or other public water features or conveyances, and it is unlawful to urinate or defecate upon public property not designated as a restroom facility. 020(F) to include streets, sidewalks, parks, canal banks, and other public rights-of-way, so the ban reaches essentially any county-controlled public space that lacks a restroom facility. Unlike the sidewalk-obstruction rule in the same section, subsections (D) and (E) are not tied to the section's distance buffers; they apply countywide on public property regardless of proximity to a school or hydrant.
010 of keeping publicly accessible areas safe, healthy, and usable, and of protecting the public health, safety, and welfare of people accessing or traversing public property.
Violations & Fines
A violation of Section 10.70.050(E) is a misdemeanor under Section 10.70.070, punishable by up to six months in jail and/or a fine of up to $500 per violation, with the court encouraged to grant diversion or probation conditioned on a rehabilitation or treatment program as an alternative under the same section.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is public urination illegal in unincorporated Fresno County?
Does the same ordinance cover bathing in public fountains?
What is the penalty for violating this section?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fresno County
California rules heatmap·Compare Fresno County to another location·View the California public conduct overview
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