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Troy, MI Public Conduct: Public Urination (2026)

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

Key Facts

Prohibited conduct
urinating in any public place
Exception
designated lavatory only
Classification
misdemeanor (not a civil infraction)
Maximum jail
90 days, county jail
Maximum fine
$500

Summary

Troy's Criminal Code flatly bars urinating anywhere in public other than a designated lavatory. Chapter 98 Section 98.03.04 makes it a straight misdemeanor, exposing a violator to up to 90 days in the county jail, a fine of up to $500, or both, with no permit path or exception built into the section.

98.03.04 Urinate in Public Place. No person shall urinate in any public place other than a designated lavatory. A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 90 days or by a fine of not more than $500, or both.

Full Breakdown

04, titled "Urinate in Public Place," states that no person shall urinate in any public place other than a designated lavatory, and that anyone who violates the section is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 90 days, a fine of not more than $500, or both. 05 (window peeping). Unlike Troy's fireworks or open-burning rules, this section carries no administrative permit process, no civil-infraction alternative, and no date or location carve-out; the prohibition applies everywhere in the city that qualifies as a public place, at all times.

Enforcement runs through the Troy Police Department, since the offense is charged as a straight misdemeanor rather than a municipal civil infraction, meaning a citation proceeds through a criminal court rather than the municipal ordinance-violations docket used for civil infractions elsewhere in the code. 01, and this provision has not been shown as amended since.

Violations & Fines

A violation of Section 98.03.04 is a misdemeanor, not a civil infraction, so it is prosecuted in court rather than resolved by a municipal fine ticket. Conviction carries up to 90 days in the county jail, a fine of up to $500, or both, at the court's discretion, the same exposure Troy attaches to indecent exposure and obscene public conduct under the surrounding sections of Chapter 98.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is public urination illegal in Troy, Michigan?
Yes. Chapter 98 Section 98.03.04 of the Troy City Code states no person shall urinate in any public place other than a designated lavatory. There's no exception for emergencies or private moments in public view; the ban applies to any public place in the city.
What's the penalty for public urination in Troy?
It's charged as a misdemeanor, not a ticket-only civil infraction, under Section 98.03.04. A conviction can bring up to 90 days in the county jail, a fine of up to $500, or both, decided by the court handling the case.
Does Troy treat public urination differently from indecent exposure?
They're both misdemeanors under the same Chapter 98 "Indecent Conduct" grouping with identical maximum penalties (90 days jail, $500 fine), but they're separate sections: 98.03.01 covers indecent exposure while 98.03.04 specifically targets urinating outside a designated lavatory.

Sources & Official References

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