Public Conduct in Santa Rosa, CA (2026)
7 verified public conduct rules for Santa Rosa, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Aggressive Panhandling
Santa Rosa Code Section 10-36.110 outlaws panhandling in an "aggressive manner," defined to include threatening conduct, unwanted touching, blocking passage, and persisting after being told no. Chapter 10-36 also bans all panhandling near banks, ATMs, entrances and after-dark parking lots.
Santa Rosa Bans Aggressive Panhandling
Significant RestrictionsSanta Rosa City Code § 10-36.110
No person shall panhandle, ask or beg in an aggressive manner in any public place. "Aggressive manner" means any of the following: (1) Approaching or speaking to a person, or following a person before, during or after panhandling, asking or begging, if that conduct is intended or is likely to cause a reasonable person to: (a) fear bodily harm to oneself or to another, damage to or loss of prope...
Public Urination
Santa Rosa makes it a crime for anyone over age 10 to urinate or defecate in a public place or anywhere exposed to public view. City Code Section 10-08.010 also bars intentionally exposing genitals for that purpose where they are visible to others.
Santa Rosa Bans Public Urination, Defecation
Some RestrictionsSanta Rosa City Code § 10-08.010
(A) It is unlawful for any person over the age of 10 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 10 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
Santa Rosa bans skateboarding, roller skates, and in-line skates on public streets, sidewalks, and alleys in the specified downtown area and Railroad Square area, plus any shopping center or other posted public property, under City Code Section 9-22.020. Bicycles face the same sidewalk ban in those same zones, though scooters are exempt on the roadway itself.
Santa Rosa Downtown Skateboarding Ban
Significant RestrictionsSanta Rosa City Code § 9-22.020(A), (B), (D)
(A) No person shall ride, propel, or in any manner operate a skateboard, scooter, roller skate, in line skate, or similar self-propelled device upon any public street, public sidewalk, public alley, or public gutter located within the specified downtown area or specified Railroad Square area; or on, along, or over any pedestrian walkway, privately owned roadway or parking area situated within a...
Loud Party Ordinance
Santa Rosa's Minor Alcohol Offense/Loud Parties chapter bars hosting a gathering of five or more underage guests where alcohol is present, and makes hosts pay for a second police response to any unruly party, gathering or event on private property.
Santa Rosa Party Host Liability Ordinance
Some RestrictionsSanta Rosa City Code § 10-28.030
Except as permitted by Article I, Section 4, of the California Constitution, no person shall suffer, permit, allow or host a party, gathering or event at his or her place of residence or other private property, place or premises under his or her control where five or more persons under the age of 21 are present and alcoholic beverages are in the possession of, or are being consumed by, any pers...
Outdoor Smoking Restrictions
Santa Rosa bans smoking in unenclosed public places under City Code Section 9-20.050, covering parks, outdoor dining areas, Old Courthouse Square, the downtown transit mall, and other listed civic spaces. A 25-foot buffer extends the ban around any smoke-free area, and violators face infraction fines starting at $100 under Section 9-20.150.
Santa Rosa Outdoor Public Smoking Ban
Significant RestrictionsSanta Rosa City Code § 9-20.050(A), (B)
(A) Smoking shall be prohibited in the following unenclosed places within 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) Parks and recreational areas, as defined in Section 9-20.030. Smoking may be allowed in designated smoking areas as authorized by the City Manager. (2) Dining areas, subject to ...
Public Marijuana Use
Santa Rosa's Smoking Regulations chapter defines "smoking" to include marijuana, so the citywide bans on smoking apply to cannabis just like tobacco. Section 9-20.050 bans smoking in parks and recreational areas, Old Courthouse Square, the downtown transit mall, and other named unenclosed public spaces, and Section 9-20.060 bans it on all City-owned property. A first violation draws up to a $100.00 fine.
Santa Rosa Bans Public Marijuana Smoking
Significant RestrictionsSanta Rosa City Code §§ 9-20.030, 9-20.050(A)(1)
"Smoking"means igniting, inhaling, exhaling, burning, vaping, operating, or carrying any lighted cigar, cigarette, pipe, hookah, electronic smoking device, tobacco product, or any other combustible substance including marijuana. ... Smoking shall be prohibited in the following unenclosed places within the City except in such places in which smoking is already prohibited by State or Federal law ...
Public Alcohol Use
Santa Rosa makes it a misdemeanor to possess an open container of, or drink, beer, wine, or other alcohol on public streets, sidewalks, alleys, malls, parking lots, and Old Courthouse Square under City Code Section 10-04.010. City parks and playgrounds other than Old Courthouse Square, and people inside a vehicle, are exempt.
Santa Rosa Open Container Alcohol Ban
Significant RestrictionsSanta Rosa City Code § 10-04.010
It is unlawful for any person to possess an opened container of or to consume beer, wine or other alcoholic beverage at any time on any public highway, road, street, sidewalk, lane, alley, mall, planting area, City-owned parking lot or parking building, or within Old Courthouse Square; provided however, that within Old Courthouse Square this section shall not apply to any area thereof on which ...
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