How Redwood City Handles Public Conduct: A Practical Guide

Redwood City maintains 130 local ordinances across all categories, and 7 of those deal specifically with public conduct. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Redwood City falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Outdoor Smoking Restrictions

Redwood City bans smoking inside every enclosed public place, from restaurants and retail stores to sports arenas and polling places, under City Code Section 15.6. Outdoors, the ban follows you into pedestrian malls and within twenty feet of any restaurant or bar entrance, exit or window, and a business owner can go further and declare the whole property smoke-free.

Key details: First-offense fine: Up to $100 (Sec. 15.8C1). Repeat-offense fine: Up to $500 within one year (Sec. 15.8C3). Right-of-way buffer: 20 feet from restaurant/bar entrance (Sec. 15.6B2). Signage rule: 1-inch "No Smoking" letters required (Sec. 15.7). Enforcing agencies: Code Enforcement and Police Department (Sec. 15.8A).

Section 15.8(C) makes any violation an infraction, with fines capped at $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second violation within one year, and $500 for each additional violation within that same year. The City may also pursue enforcement under Article VI's separate enforcement and penalties provisions, and citing officers include Code Enforcement staff and Police Department personnel.

This is one of the stricter rules in Redwood City's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Public Marijuana Use

Redwood City bars anyone from smoking, vaping, eating, or otherwise consuming cannabis at a licensed cannabis business, in its parking area, or within 300 feet of the premises on the public right-of-way, layering a local buffer on top of the state's public-consumption ban.

Key details: Consumption buffer: 300 feet from cannabis premises. Covers: Smoking, vaping, eating, ingesting cannabis. State cross-reference: Cal. Health & Safety Code Section 11362.79. Enforcement: Cannabis business permit suspension/revocation. Appeal window: 10 City working days to Hearing Officer.

A cannabis business that lets patrons consume on-site, in its lot, or within 300 feet on the public right-of-way risks suspension or revocation of its cannabis business permit under Section 32.163, and Section 32.172 makes it unlawful to obstruct the Chief of Police's inspection of the premises for compliance. A revoked permit immediately ends the business's right to operate.

Compared to other cities, Redwood City takes a harder line on public marijuana use. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Loud Party Ordinance

Redwood City treats party, dance or assemblage noise that's more than 6 dB above local ambient between 8:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. as excessive under Sec. 24.20. After a written warning, hosts (or parents of minor hosts) who let it continue become personally liable for the City's police response costs under Sec. 24.22.

Key details: Excessive noise threshold: More than 6 dB above ambient (§ 24.20). Covered hours: 8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. (§ 24.20). Trigger group size: 3 or more persons (§ 24.20). Host liability: Joint & several, after notice (§ 24.22). Litigation cost cap: $15,000 (§ 24.22).

Continuing to allow party, dance or assemblage noise more than 6 dB above local ambient between 8:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. after a written warning triggers joint and several liability under Section 24.22 for the City's police response, arrest, court-appearance and collection costs, capped at $15,000.00 for litigation costs; the underlying noise itself is separately citable under Section 24.21.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Redwood City actively enforces its loud party ordinance requirements.

Jaywalking

In Redwood City's business district, pedestrians must cross the roadway only at a marked crosswalk. City Code Sec. 20.49 flatly bars mid-block or diagonal street crossings there, backed by a citywide rule requiring right-angle crossings everywhere else in town.

Key details: Governing section: City Code Sec. 20.49. Scope: Business district only. First-offense infraction fine: Up to $100. Second offense (1 yr): Up to $200. Third+ offense (1 yr): Up to $500.

A violation of Sec. 20.49 defaults to the general penalty in Code Sec. 1.7. If charged as a misdemeanor, the fine can run up to $1,000, imprisonment up to six months, or both. If charged as an infraction (the typical track for a jaywalking cite), the fine is capped at $100 for a first violation, $200 for a second violation of the same provision within one year, and $500 for each further violation within that year. Each day a violation continues counts as a separate offense under Sec. 1.7C.

Public Alcohol Use

Redwood City bans possessing an opened alcoholic beverage container in any public place under Code section 33B.3, with narrow carve-outs for permitted encroachment activities and licensed sidewalk cafes. A first violation is an infraction punishable by up to a $100 fine.

Key details: Governing section: Redwood City Code § 33B.3. Violation class: Infraction. First-offense fine cap: $100. Second-offense fine cap (1 yr): $200. Third+ offense fine cap (1 yr): $500.

Violating Section 33B.3 is an infraction under Section 33B.4, punishable per the citywide infraction schedule in Section 1.7B: up to $100 for a first offense, up to $200 for a second violation of the same provision within one year, and up to $500 for each additional violation within that year. Each day a violation continues is a separate offense.

Skateboarding Rules

Redwood City bans riding a skateboard, bicycle, scooter, or in-line skates anywhere in Courthouse Square under City Code Section 33A.39(M), the only exceptions being wheelchairs, adaptive aids, and strollers. The rule covers the entire Square, sidewalks included, and violators can be cited or ejected under the City's enforcement authority for the plaza.

Key details: Skateboarding in Courthouse Square: Banned, no exceptions except mobility aids. Also banned: Bicycles, scooters, in-line skates. Exempted: Wheelchairs, adaptive aids, strollers. Violation penalty: Infraction under Code Sec. 1.7B. On-the-spot power: Police/City Manager may eject violators.

A violation of Section 33A.39, including riding a skateboard through Courthouse Square, is an infraction under Section 33A.52, punishable as provided in Code Section 1.7B. Beyond a citation, Section 33A.38(C) authorizes the City Manager's designee, the Chief of Police, or another authorized representative to eject and expel a violator from the Square on the spot.

This is one of the stricter rules in Redwood City's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Public Urination

Redwood City makes it unlawful to urinate or defecate in a public place, or any area of a public place, except into a toilet or urinal. Section 21.17 sets the outright ban, and Section 21.18 classifies a violation as an infraction with an escalating fine schedule.

Key details: Governing section: City Code § 21.17. Offense classification: Infraction (§ 21.18). First-offense fine: Up to $100 (§ 1.7B). Repeat-offense fine: Up to $200, then $500 (§ 1.7B). Adopted: Ord. No. 2174, 7-26-1999.

Urinating or defecating anywhere in a public place other than into a toilet or urinal violates Section 21.17 and is charged as an infraction under Section 21.18. Fines escalate under the Code's general infraction schedule: up to $100.00 for a first offense, up to $200.00 for a second offense of the same provision within a year, and up to $500.00 for each further offense within that year.

Compared to other cities, Redwood City takes a harder line on public urination. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

The Bottom Line

Redwood City is tougher than many cities when it comes to public conduct. Out of the 7 rules covered here, 5 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Redwood City, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

All of the above reflects Redwood City's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.