Jersey City, NJ Public Conduct: Public Urination (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 242-5, Article III, adopted 9-12-1985
- Scope
- Any street, sidewalk or public place citywide
- Penalty source
- General penalty, § 1-25 (no article-specific fine)
- Maximum fine
- Up to $2,000
- Maximum jail/community service
- Up to 90 days
Summary
Jersey City makes it unlawful to urinate on any street, sidewalk or public place under § 242-5, adopted 9-12-1985 by Ord. No. C-6. There is no dedicated fine written into the article; violations fall under the Code's citywide general penalty at § 1-25, up to $2,000 and/or 90 days.
ARTICLE III - Urination in Public [Adopted 9-12-1985 by Ord. No. C-6] § 242-5. - Prohibition. Urinating on any street, sidewalk or any other public place in the City of Jersey City is prohibited.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 52).
Full Breakdown
§ 242-5, titled "Prohibition," is the entirety of Article III of Chapter 242 (Peace and Good Order), adopted September 12, 1985 by Ordinance No. C-6. " The article carries a cross-reference to Chapter 251 (pornography and obscenity), signaling the city treats public urination as a public-decency offense rather than as a health-code or sanitation matter. 1 sets a flat $175 fine, Article III does not write in its own penalty schedule. 00) and/or imprisonment for a period of up to ninety (90) days and/or a period of community service not exceeding ninety (90) days," with each day of a continuing violation treated as a separate offense under § 1-25(B).
Because it sits in Chapter 242 rather than Chapter 239 (Parks), the ban applies citywide on any public street, sidewalk or place, not just inside parks, and enforcement is a Municipal Court matter rather than an administrative park ejection.
Violations & Fines
A public-urination citation under § 242-5 is prosecuted in Jersey City Municipal Court under the Code's general penalty, § 1-25: a fine of up to $2,000, up to 90 days of imprisonment, up to 90 days of community service, or a combination, at the court's discretion, with each day of a continuing violation counted as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is public urination illegal everywhere in Jersey City, or just in parks?
What's the fine for public urination in Jersey City?
When was Jersey City's public urination ban adopted?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Jersey City
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