Evanston, IL Public Conduct: Public Urination (2026)
Key Facts
- Prohibited
- urinating or defecating in public
- Covers
- streets, alleys, parks, sidewalks
- Also bars
- any act in public view
- Defense
- being in a restroom
- Penalty
- $20-$750 general fine
Summary
Urinating or defecating on an Evanston street, sidewalk, park, or other public place -- or anywhere in public view -- is unlawful, enforced under the City's general penalty provision.
It shall be unlawful for any person to urinate or defecate:1.In or on a public street, alley, sidewalk, yard, park, building, structure, plaza, public or utility right-of-way, or other public place; or2.In public view.(a)It shall be a defense to prosecution for urinating or defecating that the person was in a restroom. (Ord. No. 74-0-04; Ord. No. 35-0-10, § 1, 8-2-10; Ord. No. 8-O-12, (49-O-11(exh. B, § 9-5-11)), 1-23-2012; Ord. No. 118-O-22, § 1, 11-28-2022)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 21).
Full Breakdown
Section 9-5-11(B) makes it unlawful to urinate or defecate on a public street, alley, sidewalk, yard, park, building, structure, plaza, or public or utility right-of-way, or in public view anywhere in the City. Being in a restroom at the time is an express defense to prosecution. The section shares its heading with a public nudity/indecent exposure ban in Subsection (A) but sets no dollar fine of its own, so violations default to the City's general penalty under Section 1-4-1.
Violations & Fines
No fine is set in Section 9-5-11 itself; the City's general penalty applies -- $20 to $750 per offense under Section 1-4-1, with each day a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a specific dollar fine written into the public urination law?
Does it matter if no one actually sees me?
Sources & Official References
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Public Urination in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Cook County handle public urination.