Santa Clara, CA Public Conduct: Public Urination (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- SCCC § 9.05.010(a)
- Rule
- No urinating/defecating except at a lavatory
- 1st offense fine
- Up to $150
- 4th offense fine (1 yr)
- Up to $900
- Enforcement
- Police Dept., City Attorney discretion
- Extra penalty option
- Community service under § 9.05.010(e)
Summary
Santa Clara makes it unlawful to urinate or defecate anywhere on a street or in a public place except at a lavatory facility, under City Code § 9.05.010(a). A first offense is an infraction fine up to $150, climbing to $300, $600 and $900 for repeat violations within a year, enforced by the Police Department.
It shall be unlawful for any person on any street or in any public place within the city to do any of the following: (a) To urinate or defecate, except at a lavatory facility. ... (d) Enforcement. ... (1) However, the penalty amounts for infractions provided in SCCC § 1.05.070 are expressly superseded by the following provision for greater infraction fines. Any violation of this section deemed an infraction is punishable by: (A) A fine not exceeding one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) for the first violation; (B) A fine not exceeding three hundred dollars ($300.00) for a second violation within a one-year period; (C) A fine not exceeding six hundred dollars ($600.00) for a third violation within a one-year period; (D) A fine not exceeding nine hundred dollars ($900.00) for a fourth violation within a one-year period.
Full Breakdown
05 (In General) under Title 9, Public Peace, Morals and Welfare, makes it "unlawful for any person on any street or in any public place within the city" to urinate or defecate "except at a lavatory facility," under subsection (a). The same section also bars willfully and maliciously disturbing any lawful assembly or procession by noise, profanity or rude, obnoxious or indecent conduct in subsection (b), and it sits alongside the chapter's separate nighttime noise curfew in subsection (c). 070, giving the City Attorney and Police Department prosecutorial discretion to pursue a case criminally, civilly or administratively.
Subsection (d)(1) supersedes the City's standard infraction fine schedule with a steeper, escalating one specific to this chapter: a first violation carries a fine up to $150, a second violation within a year up to $300, a third up to $600, and a fourth up to $900. 10 can also be used to issue an administrative citation, following the same escalating fine progression. Subsection (e) allows a court, or the City in an administrative action, to impose community service as part of any penalty for a violation of the chapter, in an amount and form acceptable to the City.
Because the ordinance is codified under public peace and welfare provisions rather than a park- or facility-specific rule, it applies citywide on any street or public place, not just in parks or downtown.
Violations & Fines
A first violation of § 9.05.010(a) is an infraction punishable by a fine up to $150; a second violation within a year up to $300, a third up to $600, and a fourth up to $900, under the escalating schedule in § 9.05.010(d)(1) that supersedes the City's standard fine table. The City may also issue an administrative citation under Chapter 1.10 or impose community service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is public urination illegal everywhere in Santa Clara?
How much is the fine for public urination in Santa Clara?
Can the City require community service instead of just a fine?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Clara
California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Clara to another location·View the California public conduct overview
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Public Urination in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Santa Clara County handle public urination.