Sonoma County, CA Public Conduct: Public Urination (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Sonoma County Code § 19-10
- Minimum age covered
- Over 10 years old
- Where it applies
- Unincorporated county only
- Default penalty
- Up to $1,000 fine or 6 months jail
Summary
Unincorporated Sonoma County bans urinating, defecating, or exposing yourself to do so in any public place or place exposed to public view.
(b)It shall be unlawful for any person over the age of ten (10) years to wilfully urinate or defecate in a public place or in a place exposed to public view.(c)It shall be unlawful for any person over the age of ten (10) years to wilfully expose his person or private parts for the purpose of urination or defecation in a public place or in a place exposed to public view in such a manner that the genitals, vulva, pubis, pubic symphysis, pubic hair, buttocks, natal cleft, perineum, anus, anal region or pubic hair region is exposed to public view.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 64 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
County Code § 19-10 makes it unlawful for anyone over age ten to wilfully urinate or defecate in a public place or a place exposed to public view, or to expose their genitals, buttocks, or pubic region for that purpose in public. The board of supervisors adopted it to protect public health and keep roads, streets, and public areas from being fouled and requiring extra county maintenance. This applies only in the unincorporated county. Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Windsor, Healdsburg, Sebastopol, Cotati, Cloverdale, and the City of Sonoma each enforce their own municipal codes.
Violations & Fines
No penalty is set within § 19-10 itself, so it defaults to the code's general misdemeanor penalty under § 1-7(c): a fine up to $1,000, up to six months in county jail, or both.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this apply inside the City of Sonoma?
Is there a set fine written into the ordinance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sonoma County
California rules heatmap·Compare Sonoma County to another location·View the California public conduct overview
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