Public Conduct in Santa Maria, CA (2026)
7 verified public conduct rules for Santa Maria, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Aggressive Panhandling
Santa Maria's Aggressive Solicitation Ordinance, adopted as Chapter 6-10, makes it unlawful and a public nuisance to engage in aggressive solicitation on streets, sidewalks and other public places, and separately bans soliciting near ATMs, banks, parking structures, bus stops, restrooms and vehicle occupants after dark under Section 6-10.03.
Santa Maria Bans Aggressive Solicitation in Public
Significant RestrictionsSanta Maria Municipal Code § 6-10.03(a)-(b)
It shall be unlawful and a public nuisance for any person to: (a) Engage in aggressive solicitation on the streets, sidewalks and other public places, whether publically or privately owned. (b) Solicit in the following places: (1) Within 25 feet of an unenclosed ATM. (2) Within 25 feet of the entrance or exit to an ATM facility, bank, credit union, or check-cashing business after dark... (6) Wi...
Skateboarding Rules
Skateboards, roller skates and toy vehicles are banned from every roadway and from any public sidewalk serving a business or business district under Santa Maria law. Posted private property and skate parks add their own helmet and pad rules.
Santa Maria Skateboard and Roller Skate Rules
Significant RestrictionsSanta Maria Municipal Code Section 7-7.03 (Roller skates, skateboards and toy vehicles)
Pursuant to the authority of the California Vehicle Code, it is unlawful for any person on roller skates or riding in or by means of any coaster, skateboard, toy vehicle or similar device to go on any roadway, public sidewalk serving a business or business district, or public parking facilities... It is unlawful for any person to ride on a skateboard in a skateboard park or a skateboard park wi...
Loitering Rules
Santa Maria bars anyone under 18 from loitering on public streets, sidewalks, parks, parking lots or vacant lots between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. under Municipal Code Section 6-3.02. Exceptions cover minors accompanied by a parent or guardian, running an authorized errand, commuting to work or a sanctioned activity, or exercising First Amendment rights.
Santa Maria Nocturnal Loitering Curfew for Minors
Significant RestrictionsSanta Maria Municipal Code §§ 6-3.02, 6-3.04
Section 6-3.02. Conduct prohibited. It is unlawful for any minor to loiter upon the public street, avenues, highways, roads, alleys, sidewalks, parks, playgrounds, or other public grounds, public places, parking lots or vacant lots in the City during the hours between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. This prohibition is intended and shall be construed so as not to result in a preemption under State law...
Outdoor Smoking Restrictions
Santa Maria bans smoking in every City park, plaza and public parking facility, plus within a reasonable distance of any enclosed City building, under the Smoking Control Ordinance's Section 5-7.04. The ban also covers enclosed public places citywide under Section 5-7.05, with fines starting at $100 for a first offense and rising to $500 for repeat violations within a year.
Santa Maria Smoking Ban in Parks & Public Places
Significant RestrictionsSanta Maria Municipal Code §§ 5-7.04, 5-7.05, 5-7.08
Section 5-7.04. Application of article to City-owned facilities. Smoking is prohibited in all City parks, plazas and public parking facilities. Smoking and ashtrays are also prohibited within a reasonable distance of any enclosed City building or area where smoking is prohibited. Section 5-7.05. Prohibition of smoking in public places. (a) Smoking shall be prohibited in all enclosed public plac...
Jaywalking
Pedestrians in Santa Maria's business districts must cross the roadway at a crosswalk. Crossing mid-block or outside a marked crossing anywhere in a business district is unlawful under the City's traffic code.
Santa Maria Business-District Crosswalk Rule
Some RestrictionsSanta Maria Municipal Code Section 7-11.02 (Crossing Roadway in Business District)
Section 7-11.02. Crossing roadway in business district. It is unlawful for any pedestrian to cross a roadway other than in a crosswalk when within a business district. (Prior Code § 16-32)
Public Marijuana Use
Santa Maria regulates public marijuana smoking the same as tobacco smoking. Section 6-12.10 subjects smoking marijuana and ingesting marijuana products to Chapter 5-7's Smoking Control Ordinance and to California Health and Safety Code Section 11362.3, which bars cannabis use anywhere smoking tobacco is prohibited, including enclosed public places and City parks.
Santa Maria Marijuana Smoking Follows Tobacco Rules
Significant RestrictionsSanta Maria Municipal Code § 6-12.10; § 5-7.04, § 5-7.05, § 5-7.07, § 5-7.08
Smoking marijuana and ingesting marijuana products are subject to the regulations contained in Chapter 5-7 of this Code and California Health and Safety Code Section 11362.3. ... Smoking is prohibited in all City parks, plazas and public parking facilities. Smoking and ashtrays are also prohibited within a reasonable distance of any enclosed City building or area where smoking is prohibited. .....
Public Alcohol Use
Santa Maria makes it unlawful to drink any alcoholic beverage on public property citywide, and to possess an open container in a posted city park, under Municipal Code Section 6-5.02. The same restriction extends to privately owned property open to the public under Section 6-5.03, with permit-based exceptions for organized events.
Santa Maria Bans Drinking, Open Containers in Public
Some RestrictionsSanta Maria Municipal Code § 6-5.02(a)-(b)
(a) It shall be unlawful to drink any alcoholic beverage while upon any public property. It shall also be unlawful to consume any alcoholic beverages in any City park where posted according to Section 6-5.06. This prohibition does not apply if an exception applies under Section 6-5.04. (b) Pursuant to Section 25620 of the Business and Professions Code and any successor section, it shall be unla...
Looking for Santa Barbara County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Santa Maria city rules.
Public Conduct in Santa Barbara County →