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Buena Park, CA Public Conduct: Public Urination (2026)

Heavy Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Governing section
§ 8.36.070, Chapter 8.36 Miscellaneous Offenses
Default penalty
Misdemeanor: up to $1,000 fine, 6 months jail
Infraction alternative
$100 first, $200 second, $500 third/year
Appeal path
Orange County Superior Court, $25 fee, 20 days
Prior code source
Prior Code § 18-23

Summary

Buena Park Municipal Code § 8.36.070 flatly bans urinating or defecating in any public place, on any public street, boulevard or highway, or anywhere within view of another person who is annoyed or offended by it. The rule sits inside Chapter 8.36's Miscellaneous Offenses alongside the city's open-alcohol and firearms-discharge bans, and it carries no built-in exception for a lack of nearby restrooms within Buena Park, Orange County.

No person shall urinate or defecate in any public place, on any public street, boulevard or highway, or at any place within view of any other person who is annoyed or offended thereby.

Full Breakdown

070 makes it unlawful to urinate or defecate in any public place, on any public street, boulevard or highway, or at any place within view of any other person who is annoyed or offended thereby. 36, Miscellaneous Offenses, a catch-all chapter that also bans open alcohol consumption on public streets and sidewalks, firearm discharge, air-gun and slingshot discharge, and spray-paint sales to minors. 010: any code violation is a misdemeanor punishable by up to $1,000 and six months in jail unless it is charged or later prosecuted as an infraction, in which case the fine tops out at $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second within twelve months, and $500 for each further offense in that same year.

100, a citing official (a police officer or other employee the city manager authorizes) may instead issue an administrative citation, and the recipient can contest it by depositing the fine and filing a request-for-hearing form with the finance department within twenty days, with a hearing held fifteen to sixty days later. A person who loses that hearing has twenty days to seek de novo review from the Orange County Superior Court by paying a $25 filing fee, refundable if the court rules in the resident's favor. 010(B).

Violations & Fines

Absent a specific administrative penalty, a first violation is punishable as an infraction with a fine up to $100, rising to $200 for a second offense and $500 for a third within the same twelve months; the city may instead prosecute the underlying misdemeanor, carrying up to a $1,000 fine and six months in county jail. Citations may be appealed to a hearing officer and, after that, to the Orange County Superior Court within twenty days for a $25 fee.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is public urination illegal in Buena Park?
Yes. Buena Park Municipal Code § 8.36.070 prohibits urinating or defecating in any public place, on any public street, boulevard or highway, or anywhere in view of a person who is annoyed or offended by it. There is no carve-out for construction sites, festivals or a lack of nearby restrooms; the ban applies citywide in Buena Park, Orange County, at all hours.
What's the penalty for violating Buena Park's public urination law?
The city's general penalty section, § 1.04.010, makes it a misdemeanor punishable by up to $1,000 and six months in jail unless prosecuted as an infraction, which tops out at $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second, and $500 for each later offense within a year. Officers may also issue a civil administrative citation instead of filing charges.
Can I fight a citation for public urination in Buena Park?
Yes, if it's issued as an administrative citation. You have twenty days to deposit the fine (or seek a hardship waiver) and file a request-for-hearing form with the finance department, and a hearing officer will decide the case. If you lose, you can seek review from the Orange County Superior Court within twenty days for a $25 fee.
Does the Buena Park ban apply on private property?
It applies to public places, public streets, boulevards and highways, and anywhere a person can be seen and is annoyed or offended by the act, which under § 8.36.070 can include locations visible from private property. The section focuses on whether the location is public or in public view, not who owns the land underfoot.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Buena Park

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