Public Conduct in Redwood City, CA (2026)
7 verified public conduct rules for Redwood City, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
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.
Redwood City Public Urination Ban
Heavy RestrictionsRedwood City Code §§ 21.17-21.18
Sec. 21.17. - URINATING AND DEFECATING IN PUBLIC PROHIBITED: It shall be unlawful for any person to urinate or defecate in a public place, or area of a public place, except into a toilet or a urinal. Sec. 21.18. - ENFORCEMENT-FINES AND PENALTY: Violation of the provisions of Section 21.17 of this Chapter shall be deemed an infraction which, upon conviction thereof, shall be punishable as specif...
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.
Redwood City Courthouse Square Skate Ban
Significant RestrictionsRedwood City Code sec. 33A.39
No person shall engage in the following prohibited activities in Courthouse Square: ... M.Ride or operate a skateboard, bicycle, scooter, in-line skates, or other non-motorized vehicles with the exception of wheelchairs, adaptive aids and strollers;N.Leave a bicycle in a place other than a bicycle rack when such is provided and there is a space available.
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.
Redwood City Loud Party Host Liability
Significant RestrictionsRedwood City Code §§ 24.20, 24.22
Noise levels, generated on or within any property between the hours of eight o'clock (8:00) P.M. and eight o'clock (8:00) A.M. by a party, dance, meeting or other assemblage of three (3) or more persons, which are more than six (6) dB above the local ambient measured at any point within a residential district of the City and outside the plane of said property... After a person has been given no...
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.
Redwood City Public Place Smoking Ban
Significant RestrictionsRedwood City Code § 15.6
A.Smoking shall be prohibited in all public places within the City, except where such places do not fall within the definition of place of employment, as defined in California Labor Code Section 6404.5, as may be amended. Examples of places where smoking is prohibited include:1.Elevators and restrooms;2.Taxicabs and other means of public transit under the authority of the City and in ticket, bo...
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.
Redwood City Crosswalk-Use Rule for Pedestrians
Some RestrictionsRedwood City Code Sec. 20.49
Sec. 20.49. - WHEN PEDESTRIAN MUST USE CROSSWALKS: No pedestrian shall cross a roadway other than by a crosswalk in any business district. (Ord. No. 758, § 111)
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.
Redwood City Public Cannabis Consumption Ban
Significant RestrictionsRedwood City Code sec. 32.165(V)
Cannabis and cannabis products may not be inhaled, smoked, eaten, ingested, vaped, or otherwise used or consumed at the premises, in the parking areas of the premises, within three hundred (300) feet of the premises on the public right-of-way, or in those areas restricted under the provisions of California Health and Safety Code Section 11362.79.
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.
Redwood City Open Container Law
Some RestrictionsRedwood City Code sec. 33B.3
It shall be unlawful for any person to have in his or her possession any bottle, can or other receptacle containing any alcoholic beverage which has been opened, or a seal broken, or the contents of which have been partially removed, in any public place, except in the following permitted situations: A. Special activities subject to an encroachment permit pursuant to Sections 33A.3 and 33A.41 of...
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County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Redwood City city rules.
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