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Stearns County, MN Public Conduct: Public Urination (2026)

Some Restrictions

Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing law: Ordinance No. 696, § 5.5
Permitted location: Designated restroom or portable restroom only
Penalty: Misdemeanor under § 20.1(b)
Enforcement: Park Director staff and Stearns County Sheriff

Summary

Stearns County makes it unlawful to urinate or defecate anywhere in a county park except in a designated restroom or portable restroom facility. Ordinance No. 696 § 5.5 groups the rule under the Parks Ordinance's public-safety section, and violators face the same misdemeanor penalty as other park-conduct offenses.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Stearns County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

5.5 It shall be unlawful for any person to urinate or defecate in any County Park, other than in a designated restroom or portable restroom facility.

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Full Breakdown

5 of Stearns County Ordinance No. 4. It reads in full: it shall be unlawful for any person to urinate or defecate in any County Park other than in a designated restroom or portable restroom facility. The section draws no distinction between developed parks with permanent restroom buildings and undeveloped preserve land such as Quarry Park & Nature Preserve, where portable restroom facilities are placed to satisfy the same requirement; using either type of facility is compliant, using the woods, a trail shoulder, or a parking area is not.

3, with no exception for emergencies or the absence of a nearby restroom. Like the rest of Ordinance No. 1(b) rather than the lesser petty-misdemeanor track reserved for tobacco and e-cigarette violations.

Violations & Fines

Urinating or defecating outside a designated restroom in a Stearns County park is a misdemeanor under Ordinance No. 696 § 20.1(b). Park Director staff or the Stearns County Sheriff can issue a citation on the spot, and repeat conduct can support a permit or access restriction under the Director's general authority in Section 18.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it illegal to relieve yourself outdoors at a Stearns County park?

Yes. Section 5.5 of Ordinance No. 696 makes it unlawful to urinate or defecate anywhere in a county park except inside a designated restroom or portable restroom facility. The rule applies parkwide, including undeveloped preserve areas.

What's the penalty for violating the restroom rule?

It's a misdemeanor under Section 20.1(b) of the Parks Ordinance, the same general penalty that covers most park-conduct violations other than the tobacco and e-cigarette rules, which are petty misdemeanors.

Are portable toilets at Quarry Park considered compliant facilities?

Yes. Section 5.5 names 'a designated restroom or portable restroom facility' as the only lawful options, so a portable unit placed by the county satisfies the requirement the same as a permanent restroom building.

Sources & Official References

[1]Stearns County Parks Ordinance No. 696

Other rules in Stearns County

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All Stearns County rules

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