Public Conduct in Sunnyvale, CA (2026)
7 verified public conduct rules for Sunnyvale, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Skateboarding Rules
Riding a skateboard on the roadway portion of any Sunnyvale street is unlawful citywide under Municipal Code Section 10.12.035. In retail commercial districts, the ban extends further to sidewalks and public or private parking lots, while sidewalks elsewhere in the city are not covered by this particular section.
Skateboard Ban on Sunnyvale Streets and Sidewalks
Significant RestrictionsSunnyvale, CA, Municipal Code § 10.12.035 (Use of skateboard prohibited), Chapter 10.12 Driving Regulations
It is unlawful for any person to ride on or operate any skateboard or similar device on the roadway portion of any street; nor shall any person in any retail commercial district, ride on or operate any skateboard or similar device on any sidewalk or public or privately owned parking lot.
Loud Party Ordinance
Sunnyvale makes it unlawful to host, permit or allow a social gathering at a residence where ten or more people under 21 are present and alcohol is being possessed or consumed. A first violation draws a written warning; if public safety officers must respond a second time, the host is personally liable for the full cost of that response under Chapter 9.50.
Sunnyvale Underage Alcohol Party Host Liability
Significant RestrictionsSunnyvale, CA Municipal Code Sec. 9.50.030 (Hosting of alcohol parties unlawful), Chapter 9.50 Juvenile Alcohol Parties
No person shall suffer, permit, allow or host a social gathering at his or her place of residence where ten or more persons under the age of twenty-one are present and alcoholic beverages are in the possession of, or are being consumed by, any person under the age of twenty-one years.
Loitering Rules
Sunnyvale makes it unlawful to loiter in a median strip on any street, highway or other city-maintained public right-of-way. The code defines loitering broadly as lingering for any purpose unrelated to safely crossing the road, with an exception only for city crews or contractors performing repair or maintenance work under Section 9.56.030.
Sunnyvale Median Strip Loitering Ban
Light RestrictionsSunnyvale, CA Municipal Code Sec. 9.56.030 (Loitering in median strip), Chapter 9.56
It is unlawful for any person to loiter in a median strip within a street, highway, or other city-maintained public right-of-way. For the purposes of this section, "loiter" means to linger or remain in the median strip for any purpose unrelated to safely traversing a street or other roadway, except in an emergency. This section shall not apply to authorized city personnel or contractors who are...
Outdoor Smoking Restrictions
Sunnyvale bars smoking in a long list of outdoor and unenclosed public spaces, including outdoor dining areas, public parks, stadiums and outdoor theaters, service-area lines, and the South Murphy Avenue pedestrian retail district. Municipal Code Section 9.28.050 backs that up with a twenty-five-foot buffer from doorways, windows and vents of any place where smoking is banned.
Outdoor Public Smoking Ban in Sunnyvale
Significant RestrictionsSunnyvale, CA, Municipal Code §§ 9.28.030(a)(3)-(6), (8), 9.28.050(a), Chapter 9.28
smoking is prohibited in the following enclosed and unenclosed locations in the city: ... (3) Outdoor dining areas. (4) Gymnasiums, fieldhouses, stadiums and outdoor theaters. (5) Public parks. (6) In service areas. ... (8) In the pedestrian retail district. ... Smoking in all unenclosed areas shall be prohibited within a reasonable distance in any direction from any operable doorway, window, o...
Jaywalking
Sunnyvale requires pedestrians to cross streets by the shortest route straight across, at right angles to the curb, unless they use a marked crosswalk. Crossing any other way, or ignoring a posted no-crossing sign, is unlawful under Municipal Code Chapter 10.52, punishable as a Title 10 infraction with a fine capped at fifty dollars for a pedestrian.
Sunnyvale Jaywalking and Crossing Rules
Light RestrictionsSunnyvale, CA, Municipal Code § 10.52.050 (Pedestrians—Crossing at right angles)
It is unlawful for any pedestrian to cross a roadway at any place other than by a route at right angles to the curb or by the shortest route to the opposite curb except in a marked crosswalk.
Public Marijuana Use
Sunnyvale's smoking ordinance defines "smoke" to expressly include "marijuana smoke," so the citywide list of no-smoking locations in Municipal Code Section 9.28.030, including public parks, elevators and service areas, bars marijuana smoking in those places just as it bars tobacco. Smoking marijuana anywhere smoking is prohibited is unlawful under Section 9.28.070(a).
Public Marijuana Smoking Ban in Sunnyvale
Significant RestrictionsSunnyvale, CA, Municipal Code §§ 9.28.020, 9.28.030(a), 9.28.070(a), Chapter 9.28
"Smoke" means the gases, particles, or vapors released into the air as a result of combustion, electrical ignition, or vaporization, when the apparent or usual purpose of the combustion, electrical ignition, or vaporization is human inhalation of the byproducts... The term "smoke" includes, but is not limited to, tobacco smoke, vapors from an electronic smoking device, and marijuana smoke. ... ...
Public Alcohol Use
Drinking alcohol or carrying an open container on Sunnyvale streets, sidewalks, parkstrips, alleys, public parks or other public property is unlawful under Municipal Code Section 9.66.010 unless a permit or ordinance expressly authorizes it there. The ban even reaches private parking lots open to the public unless the lot owner allows it.
Open Container Ban in Sunnyvale Public Areas
Heavy RestrictionsSunnyvale, CA, Municipal Code § 9.66.010 (Alcoholic beverages, Drinking and open containers in public), Chapter 9.66 Alcoholic Beverages
(a) It is unlawful for any person to drink any alcoholic beverage upon any public right-of-way (including the street, parkstrip, sidewalk and public property up to the private property line), lane, alley, public park and other public property unless the consumption of alcoholic beverages is expressly permitted for that location pursuant to a permit or ordinance and the consumption is in conform...
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