Miami, FL Public Conduct: Public Urination (2026)
Key Facts
- Fine
- Up to $500.00
- Jail
- Up to 60 days
- Age exception
- Children under 5 exempt
- Medical exception
- Qualifying impairments exempt
- Covers
- Streets, parks, beaches, sidewalks
Summary
Miami Code § 37-11 makes it unlawful to urinate or defecate in any public place not designated as a restroom or toilet, with narrow exceptions for young children and people with qualifying impairments.
(c)Prohibited acts. It is unlawful for any person:(1)To urinate in any public place that has not been designated for use as a urinal or toilet.(2)To defecate in any public place that has not been designated for use as a toilet.(3)Exceptions. Subsections (c)(1) and (c)(2) shall not apply to children under five years old or to persons with impairments as defined in this section.(d)Penalty. Any person violating any of the provisions of this section shall be subject to the penalty as provided in section 1-13 of the City Code.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 23 | Ordinance 11000 (Previous Zoning Code): Supplement 22 | Miami 21 (Zoning Code): ?).
Full Breakdown
Section 37-11 prohibits urinating or defecating in any "public place": defined broadly to include streets, sidewalks, parks, beaches, and any other place open to the public that isn't designated as a restroom or portable toilet. The ban does not apply to children under five or to persons with a disability, unrelated to drug or alcohol use, that leaves them unable to control these bodily functions. Violators face the city's general penalty under § 1-13: a fine of up to $500.00, up to 60 days imprisonment, or both.
Violations & Fines
Up to $500.00 fine and/or up to 60 days in jail under City Code § 1-13, Miami's general penalty provision, since § 37-11 sets no separate penalty of its own.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is public urination illegal in Miami?
Are there any exceptions?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Miami
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Public Urination in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Miami-Dade County handle public urination.