How Edmonds Handles Public Conduct: A Practical Guide

Edmonds maintains 114 local ordinances across all categories, and 5 of those deal specifically with public conduct. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Edmonds falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Skateboarding Rules

ECC 5.46.050 bans skateboards, roller skates and coasters on every arterial street in Edmonds and on sidewalks in five specifically mapped downtown areas, including 8th Avenue, Bell Street, Maple Street and Harbor Square. Riders must obey traffic signals and avoid negligent operation; a violation is an infraction with up to a $100 fine and a 10-day device impound.

Key details: Governing section: ECC 5.46.050. Banned area: All arterial streets citywide. Also banned: Sidewalks in 5 mapped downtown zones. Penalty: Up to $100 civil infraction. Device impound: 10 days upon violation.

A violation is a civil infraction under ECC 5.46.050(E), capped at a $100.00 monetary penalty. The section also authorizes impounding the skateboard, roller skates or coaster used in the violation for a period of 10 days, giving officers a consequence beyond the ticket itself to enforce the arterial and sidewalk bans.

Compared to other cities, Edmonds takes a harder line on skateboarding rules. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Outdoor Smoking Restrictions

Edmonds bans smoking and vaping, including cigarettes, cigars, tobacco, marijuana and e-cigarettes, in every city park under ECC 5.32.045. The rule is park-specific rather than a citywide outdoor smoking ban, and the parks and recreation director must post signs identifying the prohibition.

Key details: Banned in: All city parks and beaches. Covers: Cigarettes, cigars, marijuana, vaping devices. Signage: Director must post prohibition signs. Max penalty: $1,000 misdemeanor fine. Adopted: Ord. 4152, 2019.

Smoking or vaping in an Edmonds city park is a misdemeanor under the Chapter 5.32 penalty at ECC 5.32.140, punishable by a fine not to exceed $1,000. The ban covers combustible tobacco, cigars, marijuana, and vaping devices alike, with no separate lesser penalty carved out for vaping.

Compared to other cities, Edmonds takes a harder line on outdoor smoking restrictions. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Public Urination

Edmonds treats public urination or defecation outside a restroom as a form of unlawful public exposure under ECC 5.38.010(H)(4) and 5.38.030, a misdemeanor that becomes a gross misdemeanor if committed in view of a child under 14.

Key details: Classified as: Unlawful public exposure. Standard penalty: Misdemeanor, up to $1,000/90 days. If minor under 14 present: Gross misdemeanor, up to $5,000/1 year. Requires: Intentional act in a public place.

Public urination or defecation outside a restroom is a misdemeanor under ECC 5.38.030, punishable under the general penalty at ECC 5.50.020 by a fine of up to $1,000 and/or up to 90 days in jail. If the act is exposed to a person under 14 years old, it becomes a gross misdemeanor, raising the maximum penalty to a $5,000 fine and/or up to one year in jail under ECC 5.50.020.

Jaywalking

Edmonds designates specific streets as "business districts" where RCW 46.90.418 bars pedestrians from crossing anywhere except at a marked or signed crosswalk. ECC 8.04.150 lists the Central Traffic District, a stretch of 212th Street SW, and a stretch of 76th Avenue West, plus any other street the traffic engineer flags for heavy retail and pedestrian conflict.

Key details: Governing section: ECC 8.04.150, business district designation. Central Traffic District: Sixth/Dayton to Sprague to Edmonds to Main. Listed streets: 212th St SW and 76th Ave W segments. Max civil fine: $1,000 under ECC 8.04.002. Marking required: Crosswalk or no-crossing signs must be posted.

Crossing mid-block on a designated business-district street without using a marked crosswalk is a civil infraction under ECC 8.04.002, carrying a fine up to $1,000 and no jail time. The traffic engineer's designation must be backed by visible crosswalk markings or no-crossing signage before the rule is enforceable on a given block; without that signage, ECC 8.04.150 does not itself create a citable violation.

Public Marijuana Use

Edmonds does not write its own public-cannabis-consumption rule; instead it adopts RCW 69.50.445, the state ban on opening or consuming cannabis in view of the general public, directly into city law. That adoption lets Edmonds police and prosecute the offense in municipal court rather than leaving it to the county or state.

Key details: Governing rule: RCW 69.50.445, adopted by reference. Adoption mechanism: ECC 5.14.010(B). City takes jurisdiction: ECC 5.14.010(A)(2). Default penalty: up to $1,000 fine and/or 90 days jail. Enforced by: Edmonds Police, Edmonds Municipal Court.

Opening or consuming cannabis in view of the general public is enforced by the Edmonds Police Department under the RCW 69.50.445 adoption in ECC 5.14.010(B). Absent a specific penalty carried over from the state statute, ECC 5.14.060's default misdemeanor penalty applies: a fine of up to $1,000, jail of up to 90 days, or both, prosecuted in Edmonds Municipal Court rather than a county forum.

The Bottom Line

Edmonds is tougher than many cities when it comes to public conduct. Out of the 5 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Edmonds, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

These rules come from Edmonds's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.