Passaic, NJ Public Conduct: Public Urination (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 207-1
- Chapter adopted
- 12-22-2010, Ord. No. 1856-10
- Covered locations
- Streets, sidewalks, public places, unconsented private property
- Being observed
- Separate, independent violation
- Default penalty
- Up to $2,000 fine / 90 days
Summary
Passaic makes it unlawful to urinate or defecate on any street, sidewalk or other public place outside a designated restroom, or on private property without the owner's consent, under § 207-1 of the Peace and Good Order chapter. Doing so where another person can observe it is a separate, independent violation.
No person shall urinate or defecate upon any street, highway, road, alley, sidewalk, public place, except in designated restrooms, or outdoors upon any private property without the consent of the property owner or lawful occupant. It shall likewise be unlawful for any person to urinate or defecate so as to be observed by another person.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4978046; v41 updated 2026-07-01; through 07-01-2026).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 207, Peace and Good Order, was adopted December 22, 2010 by Ordinance No. 1856-10, replacing a prior version of the chapter the City had repealed in 2008. Article I, Disorderly Conduct, opens with § 207-1, which bans urinating or defecating on any "street, highway, road, alley, sidewalk, public place, except in designated restrooms," and extends the ban to private property where the owner or lawful occupant has not consented. The section adds a second, independently enforceable clause making it unlawful for anyone to urinate or defecate "so as to be observed by another person," which can apply even where the physical location isn't otherwise covered.
The same chapter and article also address related public-conduct issues that flesh out the City's approach to street-level order: § 207-2 bars consuming alcohol or carrying an unsealed alcohol container in public places (with a block-party permit exception), § 207-3 bars disrobing in a vehicle in public view, and § 207-4 bars intentionally disrupting the lawful activities of a commercial or retail establishment. None of these sections, including § 207-1, carries its own penalty schedule.
Violations & Fines
Chapter 207 sets no fine of its own, so a conviction under § 207-1 falls under the Code's general penalty, § 1-3, which applies wherever "no specific penalties are otherwise provided regarding the section violated": a maximum fine of $2,000, up to 90 days' imprisonment, or up to 90 days of community service, per offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & Official References
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Public Urination in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Passaic County handle public urination.