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Bucks County, PA Public Conduct: Public Urination (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing rule
§ 9.27(D), Ord. No. 170 as amended by 174
Only lawful option
Restrooms or designated facilities
Related rule
Restroom fixture misuse banned, § 9.26(C)
Fine range
$25-$100 ticket or up to $600 summary
Enforced by
Bucks County Park Police

Summary

Bucks County's Park System Rules flatly ban relieving yourself anywhere in county parks except in a restroom or other facility built for that purpose. Section 9.27(D) applies parkwide, and Park Police can ticket violators the same as any other prohibited-activity offense under the ordinance's general penalty schedule.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Bucks County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

No person shall: ... D. Urinate or defecate anywhere in the Park System except in a restroom or other facility provided for such purposes.

Full Breakdown

27 of the Bucks County Park System Rules and Regulations, titled 'Other Prohibited Activities,' lists a series of acts no person may commit anywhere within the Park System; subsection D states plainly that no person shall urinate or defecate anywhere in the Park System except in a restroom or other facility provided for such purposes. 26(C), which separately bars depositing any bodily waste or fluids in or on any portion of a restroom or similar facility or other public structure except into the fixtures provided for that purpose, covering the case where someone uses a restroom but not its fixtures.

Both provisions apply across every parcel of the county Park System listed in Exhibit A, the parks and open space Bucks County itself owns or leases, not the streets, trails or parks that Bensalem, Doylestown, Newtown or any of the county's other 54 municipalities maintain on their own. § 16512 covering the Park System's roadways and grounds. A violation is punishable under the general penalty section, section 12, either as a County Ordinance ticket of $25 to $100 or, at the Department's election, referral for a summary conviction carrying a fine up to $600 plus restitution and up to 10 days in jail, along with a possible park expulsion of six months to two years imposed by the Director.

Violations & Fines

Urinating or defecating outside a restroom in a Bucks County park draws either a County Ordinance ticket of $25 to $100 under section 12(B) or a summary citation under section 12(A) carrying a fine of up to $600, restitution costs and up to 10 days in jail. The Director can additionally expel the person from the entire Park System for six months to two years, appealable in writing to the county Board of Commissioners within 10 business days.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it illegal to urinate outdoors in a Bucks County park?
Yes. Section 9.27(D) of the Park System Rules bars urinating or defecating anywhere in the county Park System except inside a restroom or other facility built for that purpose. There is no exception for remote trails or wooded sections; the restroom requirement applies parkwide.
What's the fine for public urination in a Bucks County park?
Park Police can issue a County Ordinance ticket of $25 to $100 under section 12(B), or refer the violation for a summary conviction under section 12(A), which carries a fine up to $600 plus restitution and up to 10 days in jail. The Director may also bar the person from the Park System for six months to two years.
Does this rule cover misusing a park restroom, not just outdoor urination?
A separate provision does. Section 9.26(C) of the vandalism rules bars depositing bodily waste or fluids anywhere in a restroom except into the fixtures provided, covering situations inside a facility rather than in the open park. Both sections carry the same penalty range under section 12.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Bucks County

All Bucks County rules

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