Reno, NV Public Conduct: Public Urination (2026)
Key Facts
- Code section
- Reno Municipal Code § 8.12.018
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor
- Covers
- Streets, sidewalks, parks, public buildings
- Exception
- Restrooms and sanitary waste facilities
- Adopted
- Ordinance No. 4607, 1996
Summary
Reno prohibits urinating or defecating in streets, sidewalks, parks, and other public places, with violations charged as a misdemeanor under Reno Municipal Code § 8.12.018 unless the act occurs in a proper restroom facility.
No person shall urinate or defecate in or upon any street, sidewalk, alley, plaza, park, beach, public building or publicly maintained facility, or in any place open to the public or exposed to public view. This section shall not apply to urinating or defecating in any restroom or other facility designed for the sanitary disposal of human waste.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Administrative Code: Supplement 64 | Land Development Code: Supplement 5 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Reno Municipal Code § 8.12.018 makes it unlawful to urinate or defecate in or upon any street, sidewalk, alley, plaza, park, beach, public building, or other publicly maintained facility, or any place open to public view. The prohibition covers city streets and parks within Reno city limits: it does not reach neighboring Sparks or unincorporated Washoe County, which enforce their own codes. The law carves out an exception for restrooms and other facilities built for sanitary waste disposal. Anyone convicted faces a misdemeanor charge, enforced by the Reno Police Department.
Violations & Fines
Violating the public urination/defecation ban is a misdemeanor under Reno Municipal Code § 8.12.018, prosecuted in Reno Municipal Court and punishable by fine and/or jail time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is public urination illegal in Reno?
Does the Reno ban apply inside a public restroom?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Reno
Compare Reno to another location·View the Nevada public conduct overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.