Roswell, GA Public Conduct: Public Urination (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 8.5.5
- Covers
- Streets, sidewalks, building halls/elevators, property open to view
- Exceptions listed
- None
- Penalty
- General § 1.1.3, up to $2,000 / 180 days
- Location in code
- Article 8.5 - Loitering
Summary
Roswell, Georgia makes it unlawful to urinate or defecate on any street, sidewalk, in the halls or elevators of public or commercial buildings, or on any property open to view, under § 8.5.5. The section lists no exceptions and sets no penalty of its own, so violators face the code's citywide default fine and jail exposure.
Section 8.5.5 - Defecating or Urinating on Public Property or in Public Areas. It shall be unlawful for any person to defecate or urinate on the streets or sidewalks, or in the halls or elevators of public or commercial buildings, or on any property open to view in the City of Roswell.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 17 | Unified Development Code: Supplement 5).
Full Breakdown
4). 5 makes it unlawful for any person to defecate or urinate on the streets or sidewalks, or in the halls or elevators of public or commercial buildings, or on any property open to view in the City of Roswell. The reach of the section is broader than most municipal ordinances: it isn't limited to publicly owned property. By adding 'any property open to view,' the code also covers visible spots on private property, such as an alley behind a business or a yard visible from the sidewalk, not just city streets and sidewalks.
5 contains no listed exceptions and no built-in warning requirement. 00, imprisonment of up to 180 days, community service of up to 180 days, or any combination, at the municipal court judge's discretion, with each day a violation continues counted as a separate offense. Roswell police officers and code enforcement officers can issue the citation, returnable to Roswell Municipal Court.
Violations & Fines
Urinating or defecating on a Roswell street, sidewalk, in the halls or elevators of a public or commercial building, or anywhere else 'open to view' is a Code of Ordinances violation with no listed exceptions. Because § 8.5.5 sets no penalty of its own, the general penalty in § 1.1.3 applies: up to a $2,000.00 fine, up to 180 days in jail, up to 180 days of community service, or a combination, with each day of continuing violation a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is public urination illegal in Roswell, Georgia?
Does Roswell's public-urination ban only apply on city property?
What's the penalty for violating § 8.5.5?
Are there exceptions to Roswell's public urination and defecation ban?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Roswell
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Public Urination in Nearby Cities
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