Public Conduct in Sonoma County, CA (2026)
6 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 2 cities in Sonoma County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Public Urination
Unincorporated Sonoma County bans urinating, defecating, or exposing yourself to do so in any public place or place exposed to public view.
Sonoma County Public Urination Ban
Some RestrictionsSonoma County Code § 19-10
(b)It shall be unlawful for any person over the age of ten (10) years to wilfully urinate or defecate in a public place or in a place exposed to public view.(c)It shall be unlawful for any person over the age of ten (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...
Skateboarding Rules
Skateboarders and in-line skaters at the county's designated skate park facility must wear a helmet, elbow pads and knee pads, or face a citation for an infraction.
Sonoma County Skateboarding Rules
Some RestrictionsSonoma County Code § 20-81
All persons riding a skateboard or in-line skates at any county skate park facility shall wear a helmet, elbow pads on each elbow and knee pads on each knee. Any person riding a skateboard or in-line skates at any county skate park facility not wearing a helmet, elbow pads on each elbow, and knee pads on each knee shall be guilty of an infraction, and be subject to citation.
Loud Party Ordinance
A first sheriff's response to a loud party in unincorporated Sonoma County draws a warning; every unabated repeat response bills the host, tenant, or property owner for the deputies' time.
Sonoma County Loud Party Response Fees
Significant RestrictionsSonoma County Code § 4-101
On the sheriff's first response to a complaint for a disturbance of the peace, the sheriff or his representative shall warn the responsible individual that the disturbance must cease. For each subsequent meritorious response to the same unabated disturbance/nuisance site, a service fee will be charged to the responsible individual(s). The responsible individual(s) may be any or all of the follo...
Loitering Rules
Unincorporated Sonoma County bans loitering in any cemetery or burial ground, defining loiter as idling with intent to commit crime or mischief, or without a lawful errand.
Sonoma County Cemetery Loitering Ban
Some RestrictionsSonoma County Code § 9-4
No person shall loiter in any cemetery or property used or held exclusively for the burial or other permanent deposit of the human dead. The word "loiter" is used herein in the sense of idling time away with intent to commit crime or mischief, or without a lawful errand.
Outdoor Smoking Restrictions
Sonoma County bans smoking in unincorporated-area parks, public events, service lines, and outdoor dining areas, plus a 25-foot buffer around any smoke-free space.
Sonoma County Outdoor Smoking Ban
Some RestrictionsSonoma County Code § 32-6
Smoking shall be prohibited in the following places within the unincorporated area of the county: (1)Enclosed areas in places of employment.(2)The following unenclosed areas:(a)Dining Areas. An employer with an unenclosed dining area may establish a designated smoking area elsewhere on the premises if the designated smoking area meets the criteria set forth in section 32-3. This subsection s...
Public Alcohol Use
Drinking beer, wine, or any alcoholic beverage on a public street, sidewalk, road, alley, or open parking lot is unlawful at all times in unincorporated Sonoma County.
Sonoma County Public Alcohol Ban
Heavy RestrictionsSonoma County Code § 19-9
It shall be unlawful for any person to consume any beer, wine or other alcoholic beverages at any time on any public highway, road, street, sidewalk, lane, alley or parking lot open for public use within the county of Sonoma.
Public Conduct by City in Sonoma County
2 cities in Sonoma County have their own public conduct rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Sonoma County ordinances
See every category we cover for Sonoma County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Sonoma County Ordinance Hub →