Bristol, PA Public Conduct: Outdoor Smoking Restrictions (2026)

Subsection 1.K of § 16-101 provides that no person shall engage in smoking in the recreational, athletic and playground areas, and all public open spaces, located in the Borough of Bristol and owned by the Borough of Bristol or the Bristol Borough Recreational Authority. The section's opening paragraph describes the same property as the park, recreational, athletic areas, playground areas and all public open spaces owned by the Borough or the Recreation Authority, and subsection 1.A names the Jefferson Avenue Recreational Complex among the park, recreation and athletic areas.

The code defines the term. "Smoking" is the carrying by a person of a lighted cigar, cigarette, pipe, or other lighted smoking device. The definition turns on carrying a lighted device, not on inhaling. The code then carves out vaping: use of vapor cigarette products, or e-cigarette products, is not considered "smoking" for purposes of subsection 1.K.

The subsection is limited by its terms to land owned by the Borough of Bristol or the Bristol Borough Recreational Authority. It names no private property and no business premises.

The access pier has its own list. Section 16-103(1)(E) says that for the access pier there shall be no swimming, loitering, alcohol, smoking, loud music or noise, bikes, skateboards, or jumping from the pier. The pier rules were added by Ord. 1317 on 7/10/2017, while the park rules in § 16-101 were amended most recently by Ord. No. 1357 on 7/11/2022.

The smoking ban sits among the other park rules, which apply during the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. that § 16-101(1)(A) sets, and which also bar alcoholic beverages (1.I) and motor vehicles outside authorized parking areas (1.J).