Hackensack, NJ Public Conduct: Public Urination (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing article
- Ch. 119, Art. VII, adopted 2020
- Banned conduct
- Urination/defecation in public places
- Private-property reach
- Banned if visible or unauthorized
- Exception
- Children under six years old
- Exception
- Persons with qualifying impairments
- Penalty
- Up to $2,000 fine or 90 days (§ 1-15)
Summary
Section 119-23 makes it unlawful to urinate or defecate in any public place not designated as a restroom, adopted in 2020 by Ord. No. 46-2020 as a public-nuisance measure. The ban also reaches private property visible from public, or without the owner's permission. It exempts children under six and persons with qualifying impairments.
§ 119-21. Purpose. Public urination and/or defecation is found to be a public nuisance and detrimental to the health, safety, and welfare of the City and its inhabitants. ... § 119-23. ... Prohibited acts; exceptions. It is unlawful for any person: A. To urinate in any public place that has not been designated for use as a urinal or toilet. B. To defecate in any public place that has not been designated for use as a toilet. C. To urinate or defecate outdoors on private property, if visible from a public place. D. To urinate or defecate outdoors on private property, even if not visible from a public place, without the express permission of the owner. E. Exceptions. The provisions of § 119-23A, B and C shall not apply to children under six years old or to persons with impairments as defined in this article.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4592721; v20 updated 2026-01-06; through 01-06-2026).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 119, Article VII, adopted November 9, 2020, declares public urination and defecation a public nuisance detrimental to the health, safety and welfare of Hackensack's residents. "Public place" is defined broadly to include any street, highway, right-of-way, alley, parking lot, driveway, sidewalk, boulevard, park, pier or bridge, but excludes a place specifically designated as a urinal or toilet, such as a restroom or portable toilet. Section 119-23 makes it unlawful to urinate or defecate in any public place not so designated, and extends the ban to private property: it is unlawful to urinate or defecate outdoors on private property if visible from a public place, and unlawful to do so even out of public view without the express permission of the property owner.
Subsection E carves out two exceptions to the public-place and visible-private-property bans: children under six years old, and persons with a recognized disability, unrelated to alcohol or drug use, that renders them unable to control their bodily functions of urination or defecation.
Violations & Fines
Any violation of Article VII is punishable under the citywide penalty at § 1-15, since Article VII sets no fine of its own: a fine of up to $2,000, imprisonment of up to 90 days, or both, with each day of a continuing violation treated as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is public urination illegal in Hackensack?
Does the ban apply on my own property?
Are there any exceptions to Hackensack's public urination ordinance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hackensack
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