Phoenix, AZ Public Conduct: Public Urination (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- City Code § 23-48
- Covered locations
- Sidewalks, streets, buses, visible parks
- Exception
- No suitable facilities provided
- Penalty basis
- General penalty, § 1-5
- Maximum penalty
- 6 months jail, $2,500 fine
Summary
Urinating or defecating on Phoenix sidewalks, streets, buses, or visible public places is a misdemeanor unless suitable facilities are unavailable.
It shall be unlawful for any person to urinate or defecate upon any of the public sidewalks or crosswalks in the City or upon any public path, by-way or highway, or upon the floor or interior of any bus or other public conveyance, or in or on any public place or park which is easily visible or readily accessible from a public thoroughfare or public conveyance, except where suitable facilities are provided therefor. (Ord. No. G-2239, § 2)
Sec. 23-48.01. Prohibited use of public right-of-way. It shall be unlawful for any person to use a public street, highway, alley, lane, parkway, sidewalk or other right-of-way, whether such right-of-way has been dedicated to the public in fee or by easement, for lying, sleeping or otherwise remaining in a sitting position thereon, except in the case of a physical emergency or the administration of medical assistance. (Ord. No. G-2238, § 1) Cross reference—Loitering, § 23-8. State law reference—Authority to prohibit obstructions to places of public passage, A.R.S. §§ 9-499.01, 9-240(B)(15), 9-276(A)(2); obstructing highway or public thoroughfare, A.R.S. § 13-2906.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance G-7524, passed June 17, 2026).
Full Breakdown
City Code § 23-48 makes it unlawful to urinate or defecate on public sidewalks, crosswalks, paths, or highways, inside a bus or other public conveyance, or in any public place or park that is easily visible or readily accessible from a public thoroughfare or conveyance, except where suitable facilities are provided. The section carries no specific penalty of its own, so the Code's general penalty clause (§ 1-5) applies: a Class 1 misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail, a $2,500 fine, and up to three years probation, with each day of a continuing violation charged as a separate offense.
Violations & Fines
Class 1 misdemeanor: up to 6 months jail, $2,500 fine, 3 years probation (§ 1-5 general penalty)
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & Official References
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Public Urination in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Maricopa County handle public urination.