Thousand Oaks, CA Public Conduct: Public Urination (2026)
Key Facts
- Prohibited act
- Urinating or defecating in public
- Exception
- Enclosed restroom, toilet, or commode only
- Enacted
- Ord. 1244-NS, eff. Nov. 7, 1995
- Covered locations
- Parks, sidewalks, streets, parking lots
- Max misdemeanor penalty
- $1,000 fine / 6 months jail
- Max infraction fine
- $500 (third offense)
Summary
Thousand Oaks flatly bans urinating or defecating in any public place, allowing only a urinal, toilet or commode inside a bathroom, restroom, portable restroom or other structure enclosed from public view. The rule has been on the books since 1995 and is enforced as a standard Municipal Code offense.
It is unlawful for any person to urinate or defecate in any public place except when using a urinal, toilet or commode located in a bathroom, restroom, portable restroom or other structure enclosed from public view.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-78: 2026 S-78 Supplement contains: Current city legislation passed through March 31, 2026).
Full Breakdown
07, enacted by Ord. 1244-NS effective November 7, 1995, states the prohibition in a single operative sentence: it is unlawful to urinate or defecate in any public place except in an enclosed facility. " That sweeps in street corners, park lawns, parking structures and alleys alike, while the exception is narrow: the act must occur inside a urinal, toilet or commode located in a bathroom, restroom, portable restroom, or other structure enclosed from public view, so relieving oneself behind a parked car or a bush does not qualify even if no one is looking. 01(b).
Violations & Fines
A violation of § 5-8.07 is prosecutable under TOMC § 1-2.01 as an infraction or a misdemeanor. Charged as an infraction, § 1-2.03 sets fines up to $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second violation of the same ordinance within a year, and $500 for each additional violation within that year. Charged as a misdemeanor, the penalty is a fine of up to $1,000, imprisonment of up to six months in the county jail, or both. The City Attorney or the citing officer determines whether a given citation is filed as an infraction or a misdemeanor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is public urination always a crime in Thousand Oaks, even at night with no one around?
Does a portable toilet at an outdoor event count as a legal option?
What places count as 'public' under this law?
Can I be jailed for a first offense of public urination here?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Thousand Oaks
California rules heatmap·Compare Thousand Oaks to another location·View the California public conduct overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Public Urination in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Ventura County handle public urination.