Pittsburgh, PA Public Conduct: Public Urination (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- City Code § 601.16
- Fine per violation
- $500 plus court costs
- Enacted
- Ord. No. 26-2009, eff. 9-28-2009
- Covers
- Public places and non-consenting private property
Summary
Pittsburgh bans urinating or defecating in public places or on private property without consent, unless it's in an enclosed sanitary facility. Each violation carries a flat $500 fine.
Any person who urinates or defecates in, on, or about any of the following places, other than in an appropriate sanitary facility, commits a violation:
a) Any public place.
b) Any private property into or upon which the public is admitted by easement or license; or
c) Any private property without the consent of the owner.
(2) It is a separate violation for any person who has urinated or defecated in, on, or about any public place, other than in an appropriate sanitary facility, to fail to clean or remove the material deposited immediately, or to fail to dispose immediately of the material used in the cleaning or removal process in a container designed for such disposal.
Full Breakdown
City Code § 601.16 prohibits urinating or defecating in any public place, on private property the public may enter, or on any private property without the owner's consent, unless done in an enclosed "appropriate sanitary facility." "Public place" is defined broadly to cover sidewalks, streets, alleys, parks, parking lots, vacant lots, and building entryways. Failing to immediately clean up and properly dispose of the waste is a separate violation from the act itself.
Violations & Fines
Fixed fine of $500 plus court costs per violation under § 601.14(e); failing to clean up afterward is a second, separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is public urination illegal in Pittsburgh?
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pittsburgh
Compare Pittsburgh to another location·View the Pennsylvania public conduct overview
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