Ontario, CA Public Conduct: Public Urination (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Ontario Municipal Code Sec. 5-23.06
- Effective date
- September 18, 2025 (Ord. 3311)
- Covers
- Public and private property in public view
- Exception
- Restroom or facility designed for the purpose
- Enforcement
- Sec. 5-23.07, separate offense per day
Summary
Ontario Municipal Code Sec. 5-23.06 bans urinating, defecating, or dumping fecal matter on public or private property in view of the public, on any street, sidewalk, alley, or park, unless done in a restroom or facility built for that purpose. The rule was added by Ord. 3311, effective September 18, 2025.
It shall be unlawful for any person to urinate or defecate or dump any fecal matter on public or private property in an area exposed to the public view or on any public street, sidewalk, alley, park, or any other space except in a restroom or other facility designed for such purpose.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-32: Current through Ordinance 3338, passed 7-21-2026).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 06, added to Chapter 23 (Camping and Storage of Personal Property) by Sec. 4 of Ord. " The ban covers both public and private property, so long as the act happens where it is exposed to public view; it applies City-wide and is not limited to downtown or park areas. It sits alongside the chapter's camping (Sec. 03) and vehicle-habitation (Sec. 05) provisions, reflecting the same September 2025 update aimed at unsanitary conditions tied to unlawful camping. Enforcement runs through Sec. 07, which applies to the whole chapter: each day a violation is committed or continued counts as a separate, separately punishable offense, and the City may use any lawful means, including criminal prosecution, administrative citation, or civil remedies such as a restraining order or injunction, cumulatively with one another rather than as a substitute for other applicable law.
Violations & Fines
Urinating, defecating, or dumping fecal matter in public view anywhere in the City, other than in a restroom or designated facility, is a separately punishable offense for each day it occurs under Sec. 5-23.07. The City may pursue criminal prosecution, administrative citation, or civil remedies including injunctive relief, and may combine these remedies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is public urination illegal in Ontario, California?
Does the ban only apply on city-owned property?
When did Ontario adopt this rule?
What is the penalty for violating it?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ontario
California rules heatmap·Compare Ontario to another location·View the California public conduct overview
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Public Urination in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Bernardino County handle public urination.