Winston-Salem, NC Public Conduct: Public Urination (2026)
Key Facts
- Citation
- § 38-30
- Penalty
- Class 3 misdemeanor, up to $500
- Covers
- Public and private property
- Exception
- Designated restrooms/toilet facilities
- Defense
- Owner's written permission on private property
Summary
Winston-Salem bans urinating or defecating in any public place, street, sidewalk, right-of-way, or public building except in designated restrooms, treating a violation as a class 3 misdemeanor punishable by up to a $500 fine.
It shall be unlawful for any person to urinate or defecate on any public place, sidewalk, street, alleyway or right-of-way, or in any public building, except in designated water closets or toilet facilities, or on any private property. ... A violation of section 38-30, or any part thereof, shall constitute a class 3 misdemeanor, as provided by G.S. 14-4, and shall subject the offender to a fine of not more than $500.00.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 102 | Personnel: Supplement 96 | Water and Sewer: Supplement 56 | Solid Waste: Supplement 15).
Full Breakdown
Section 38-30 of the Winston-Salem Code of Ordinances makes it unlawful to urinate or defecate on any public place, sidewalk, street, alleyway, right-of-way, or in any public building, unless using a designated water closet or toilet facility. The same ban covers private property, though written permission from the owner or lawful occupant is an affirmative defense to that charge. Enforcement runs through the city's general penalty provision: a violation is a class 3 misdemeanor under G.S. 14-4, carrying a fine of up to $500.00. The ordinance applies citywide within Winston-Salem's corporate limits and traces back to the 1975 code, § 12-42.
Violations & Fines
Urinating or defecating in a public place, street, sidewalk, or public building, or on private property without the owner's written permission, is a class 3 misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $500.00.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is public urination illegal in Winston-Salem?
Does the ban apply on private property too?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Winston-Salem
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