Bothell, WA Public Conduct: Public Urination (2026)

Bothell Municipal Code § 9.09.020, headed "Urinating in public," sits in Chapter 9.09, Offenses Against Public Morals. Despite the heading, the text covers both acts: a person is guilty if the person "intentionally urinates or defecates in a public place, other than a washroom or toilet room, under circumstances where such act could be observed by any member of the public."

Three elements carry the offense. The act must be intentional. It must happen in a public place, and the only carve-out is a washroom or toilet room. And the circumstances must be such that the act could be observed by any member of the public. The test is whether it could be observed, not whether anyone did observe it. Section 9.09.020 does not define "public place" itself; the definition in § 9.09.010(C)(3) is written for the neighboring prostitution loitering section ("As used in this section") and lists streets, sidewalks, parks, alleys, plazas, parking lots and buildings open to the public.

The penalty is civil in form. Subsection B declares any violation "an infraction" with a penalty "not to exceed $250.00," so the offense carries a monetary penalty, not the jail exposure of a misdemeanor.

Events raise the stakes in a different way. Under § 9.03.030(B), anyone who commits an offense against public peace, a category the section says includes "urinating in public," while attending or in conjunction with a public event can be ordered removed from the event property by a person with lawful authority over the event or by a law enforcement officer. The order can bar the person from returning for the duration of the event if there is cause to believe further violations would occur, and it applies to event areas on and off public streets. A lawfully issued order that is violated is criminal trespass under Chapter 9A.52 RCW.