Public Conduct in Petaluma, CA (2026)
8 verified public conduct rules for Petaluma, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Public Urination
Petaluma Municipal Code section 10.16.020 makes it unlawful for anyone over the age of ten to willfully urinate or defecate in a public place or anywhere exposed to public view, and separately bans exposing oneself for that purpose in a way that displays the genitals, buttocks or anal region to public view.
Petaluma Public Urination and Defecation Ban
Some RestrictionsPetaluma Municipal Code § 10.16.020
A. It is unlawful for any person over the age of ten years to wilfully urinate or defecate in a public place or in a place exposed to public view. B. It is unlawful for any person over the age of ten years to wilfully expose his person or private parts for the purpose of urination or defecation in a public place or in a place exposed to public view in such a manner that the genitals, vulva, pub...
Skateboarding Rules
Petaluma bans skateboarding on public streets, sidewalks, parks and publicly owned buildings unless the rider follows nighttime reflective-gear, no-roadway and right-of-way rules, and bans it outright in the central business district and 13 named shopping centers.
Petaluma Skateboarding Restrictions
Significant RestrictionsPetaluma Municipal Code § 11.76.010
It is unlawful for any person to skate, or use, or ride any skateboard or other similar device in, on or over any public streets, bridge, underpass, sidewalk, sidewalk space, park, public pedestrian walkway, publicly owned building, or publicly owned parking facility within the city limits, in violation of the following restrictions: A. Such use shall not occur after sunset of one day and befor...
Loud Party Ordinance
Petaluma's Social Host Ordinance, Chapter 10.64, makes it unlawful for anyone with a right of possession of a property to knowingly host or allow an underage or unruly gathering where alcohol reaches a minor. Property owners, tenants and event organizers face criminal, civil and administrative penalties plus the city's police response costs.
Petaluma Social Host Ordinance for Parties
Significant RestrictionsPetaluma Municipal Code §§ 10.64.040, 10.64.050
It is the duty of responsible persons to not knowingly host, permit, or allow an underage or unruly gathering at a residence or other private property in the city concerning which the responsible person has a right of possession specified in Section 10.64.030(F) and to take all reasonable steps to prevent the consumption of alcoholic beverages by any underage person at gatherings at such reside...
Loitering Rules
Petaluma Municipal Code section 10.60.010 makes it unlawful to loiter on private commercial property after business hours without the owner's permission, but the city only enforces the chapter once the affected property owner or business operator has filed a written request asking it to do so.
Petaluma Private Property Loitering Ban
Light RestrictionsPetaluma Municipal Code §§ 10.60.010, 10.60.020
It shall be unlawful for any person to loiter on or about any private commercial property during non-business hours without the express or implied permission of the owner of such property or person in lawful control of the business maintained thereon. This chapter shall be enforced after the city has received written request from affected property owners or persons in lawful control of business...
Outdoor Smoking Restrictions
Petaluma bans smoking in the unenclosed areas of public places, plazas, recreation areas, open space, service areas and dining areas across the city, not just indoors. The ban even reaches within twenty feet of a working road or construction crew, and it applies to e-cigarettes and vaping under the code's broad definition of smoking.
Petaluma Outdoor Public Smoking Ban
Significant RestrictionsPetaluma Municipal Code § 8.20.040(B)
Smoking is prohibited in the unenclosed areas of the following places within the city limits of the city except in such places in which smoking is already prohibited by state or federal law, in which case the state or federal law applies: 1. Public places, including public plazas. 2. Within twenty feet of a working road or building and construction crew. 3. Recreation areas. 4. Open space. 5. S...
Jaywalking
In Petaluma's central traffic district and any business district, pedestrians must cross the roadway at a marked crosswalk rather than mid-block. The traffic engineer designates where crosswalks exist and may post signs barring their use at a specific intersection.
Petaluma Jaywalking and Crosswalk Rules
Some RestrictionsPetaluma Municipal Code §§ 11.36.040, 11.36.020
11.36.040 Business districts. No pedestrian shall cross a roadway other than by a crosswalk in the central traffic district or in any business district. ... 11.36.020 Establishment of crosswalks—Length of block. Other than crosswalks at intersections, no crosswalk shall be established in any block which is less than four hundred feet in length and such crosswalk shall be located as nearly as pr...
Public Marijuana Use
Petaluma's smoking ordinance defines smoking broadly enough to cover marijuana, treating it the same as tobacco: the code bans lighting up 'tobacco or any other weed or plant' inside every place of employment and enclosed public place other than a bar. That sweeps marijuana joints, pipes and vape devices into the same enclosed-area smoking ban that covers cigarettes.
Petaluma Ban on Smoking Marijuana in Public
Significant RestrictionsPetaluma Municipal Code §§ 8.20.030(EE), 8.20.040(A)
"Smoking" means engaging in an act that generates smoke, including but not limited to lighting or possession of a lighted pipe, cigar, cigarette, or hookah water pipe, an operating e-cigarette or a lighted smoke inhalation device of any kind that generates smoke of any kind, from tobacco or any other weed or plant. ... Smoking is prohibited in the enclosed areas of the following places within t...
Public Alcohol Use
Petaluma bans possessing an opened alcoholic beverage container or consuming alcohol in any city park the city manager has designated and posted as alcohol-prohibited, unless the person holds a permit from the parks and recreation department.
Petaluma Alcohol in Public Parks
Significant RestrictionsPetaluma Municipal Code § 13.28.185
No person shall possess any bottle, can or any other receptacle containing any alcoholic beverage which has been opened or a seal broken or the contents partially removed, or consume any alcoholic beverage, in any public park within the city which: A. Has been designated by the city manager as a park where the consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited, without permit and B. Has been post...
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