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Medford, OR Public Conduct: Public Urination (2026)

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

Key Facts

Governing section
Medford Code § 5.125
Offense class
Violation (fine only)
Max fine
$250
No jail
Classified as violation, not crime
Last amended
Ord. No. 2000-45, Mar. 16, 2000

Summary

Medford bans urinating or defecating in public view or in any public place other than a restroom. The offense is classified as a violation, capping the penalty at a $250 fine with no jail time under the city's general violation schedule.

5.125 Public Urination. (1) No person shall urinate or defecate in public view or in a public place other than a restroom. (2) Violation of this section constitutes a violation. [Amd. Ord. No. 2000-45, Mar. 16, 2000.]

View official code

Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2026-32, passed May 6, 2026).

Full Breakdown

125 of the Medford Code provides simply that no person shall urinate or defecate in public view or in a public place other than a restroom, and subsection (2) classifies the offense as a violation. 990(2) caps a classified violation at a fine not exceeding $250 and specifies that conviction carries no criminal disability or legal disadvantage. 310), and it was last amended by Ordinance No. 2000-45 on March 16, 2000. The prohibition reaches both acts, urinating and defecating, and applies whenever the conduct occurs in public view, meaning it need not happen inside a designated public place if it is visible to others, or occurs in any public place lacking restroom privacy. 990(1).

Violations & Fines

Urinating or defecating in public view or in a public place outside a restroom violates Section 5.125(1), and subsection (2) confirms it is punishable only as a violation under Section 5.990(2), meaning a maximum $250 fine with no imprisonment and no resulting criminal record.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is public urination a crime in Medford?
No. Section 5.125(2) classifies it as a violation rather than a crime, so under Section 5.990(2) it carries a maximum fine of $250 with no jail time and no criminal record for the person cited.
Does Medford's public urination law cover private property visible from the street?
Yes, potentially. Section 5.125(1) bans urinating or defecating "in public view," which covers conduct visible to the public even if it technically occurs on private property, in addition to any public place other than a restroom.
What is the maximum fine for public urination in Medford?
Up to $250. Section 5.125(2) classifies the offense as a violation, which falls under Section 5.990(2)'s general violation penalty capping fines at $250 with no imprisonment.

Sources & Official References

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