Westminster, CA Public Conduct: Public Urination (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- WMC § 9.16.100
- Covers
- public places, public view, private property without consent
- Exception
- designated restroom/bathroom fixtures
- Default penalty
- misdemeanor, up to $1,000 fine or 6 months jail
- Alternative charge
- infraction, $100/$200/$500 tiered fines
- Enforcing agency
- Westminster Police Department
Summary
Westminster makes it unlawful to urinate or defecate in any public place, any place open to public view, or on private property entered without the owner's consent. The prohibition, Code Section 9.16.100, is enforced by the police department as a misdemeanor.
§ 9.16.100. Public excretion prohibited. No persons shall urinate or defecate in a: A. Public place; B. Place open to the public or exposed to public view; or C. Private place entered without consent of the owner, his agent, or the person in lawful possession thereof. This section shall not apply to urination or defecation in any fixture provided for such purposes in any bathroom, restroom, dressing room, or similar facility. (Ord. 2114 § 2, 1989)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4982734; v10 updated 2026-06-10).
Full Breakdown
100 flatly prohibits urinating or defecating in three settings: any public place; any place open to the public or exposed to public view; and any private place entered without the consent of the owner, agent, or person in lawful possession. The section carves out one narrow exception: it does not apply to using a fixture actually provided for that purpose in a bathroom, restroom, dressing room, or similar facility. 090), which regulate a different category of public-exposure conduct. 010: absent a different punishment specified elsewhere, a misdemeanor conviction for violating any city ordinance carries a fine of up to $1,000, imprisonment of up to six months, or both, and the city attorney has discretion to instead charge the same conduct as an infraction.
010(A)(3). 100 rather than to a state statute, giving Westminster police an independent local charge that does not depend on proving the elements of a Penal Code offense.
Violations & Fines
A first violation is typically charged as a misdemeanor under Section 1.12.010, punishable by up to a $1,000 fine, up to six months in county jail, or both. The city attorney may instead prosecute as an infraction, which carries escalating fines of $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second within a year, and $500 for each additional offense within that year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is public urination illegal in Westminster?
What happens if I'm cited for public urination in Westminster?
Does the Westminster ordinance apply on private property?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Westminster
California rules heatmap·Compare Westminster to another location·View the California public conduct overview
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Public Urination in Nearby Cities
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