Inglewood, CA Public Conduct: Public Urination (2026)
Key Facts
- Adopted
- Ord. 96-05, March 19, 1996
- Covers
- Streets, sidewalks, parkways, public/business places
- Exemption
- Restrooms or sanitary-disposal facilities
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor, up to $500 and/or 6 months jail
- Classification
- Not listed as an infraction under Sec. 1-18.1
Summary
Inglewood bans urinating or defecating in any street, sidewalk, parkway, playground, public place, or any place open to the public or exposed to public view, under Municipal Code Sec. 7-3.1. Restrooms and other sanitary-disposal facilities are exempt. The section isn't on the City's infraction list, so it defaults to misdemeanor prosecution.
§ 7-3.1. Urinating or Defecating in Public Prohibited. It shall be unlawful for any person to urinate or defecate in or upon any street, sidewalk, parkway, playground, or any public place or in any place open to the patronage of the public or exposed to public view. This Section shall not apply to urination or defecation which is done in any rest room or other facility designed for the sanitary disposal of human waste.
Full Breakdown
Adopted by Ordinance 96-05 on March 19, 1996, Sec. 1 reaches well beyond streets and sidewalks: it also covers any "place open to the patronage of the public or exposed to public view," language broad enough to sweep in parking lots, businesses, and event venues like SoFi Stadium concourses, not just City-owned rights-of-way. The only carve-out is for conduct done inside a restroom or other facility built for sanitary disposal of human waste. Because Sec. 1 does not appear on the list of sections the City has specifically declared infractions at Sec.
1(a), a violation falls under the general penalty at Sec. 1-18: any Code violation making an act unlawful that isn't specifically declared an infraction is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine up to $500, imprisonment in City or County Jail up to six months, or both. Sec. 3 additionally gives the City Attorney discretion to file misdemeanor charges for any Code violation, including ones that might otherwise be treated more leniently, which reinforces that public urination in Inglewood is handled as a criminal matter rather than a citation-only infraction.
Violations & Fines
A violation of Sec. 7-3.1 is prosecuted as a misdemeanor under the general penalty provision, Sec. 1-18, since the section is not among those the City specifically classifies as infractions at Sec. 1-18.1(a). Conviction carries a fine of up to $500, up to six months in City or County Jail, or both.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is public urination illegal in Inglewood?
Does the ban apply at SoFi Stadium or other event venues?
What is the penalty for violating Sec. 7-3.1?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Inglewood
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Public Urination in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle public urination.