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Bucks County, PA Public Conduct: Outdoor Smoking Restrictions (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing rule
§ 9.27(L), Ord. No. 170 as amended by 174
Buffer distance
50 feet from playgrounds and recreational fields
Covers
Tobacco products and electronic cigarettes, any form
Fine range
$25-$100 ticket or up to $600 summary
Other park areas
Not covered by the 50-foot buffer

Summary

Bucks County bars tobacco and e-cigarette use within 50 feet of any recreational field or playground in the county Park System, designating those buffer zones tobacco-free under section 9.27(L) of the Park System Rules. The rule targets fields and playgrounds specifically, not the entire Park System.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Bucks County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

No person shall: ... L. Use any tobacco product or electronic cigarette, in any form, within 50 feet of a recreational field/facility, or playground since these areas are designated as tobacco-free.

Full Breakdown

27(L) of the Bucks County Park System Rules and Regulations, part of the 'Other Prohibited Activities' list, provides that no person shall use any tobacco product or electronic cigarette, in any form, within 50 feet of a recreational field, facility, or playground since these areas are designated as tobacco-free. The buffer is measured from the recreational field, facility or playground itself rather than applied to the entire Park System, so smoking or vaping remains permitted in other outdoor areas of a county park, such as picnic groves, parking lots or trails, so long as a person stays outside the 50-foot zone around a field or playground.

I), all enforced identically. § 16512, patrol the Park System's parcels listed in Exhibit A and can act on this rule the same as any other section 9 violation. A violation carries the section 12 penalty schedule: a County Ordinance ticket of $25 to $100 issued by the Department in lieu of a summary citation, or a summary conviction before a district justice carrying a fine up to $600 plus restitution and up to 10 days imprisonment, with the Director able to expel a violator from the Park System for six months to two years.

Violations & Fines

Smoking or vaping within 50 feet of a playground or recreational field in a Bucks County park is punishable under section 12: a County Ordinance ticket of $25 to $100, or a summary offense carrying a fine up to $600, restitution and up to 10 days in jail. The Director may additionally expel the violator from the Park System for six months to two years, appealable to the Board of Commissioners within 10 business days.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I smoke anywhere in a Bucks County park?
Not within 50 feet of a playground or recreational field. Section 9.27(L) designates those areas tobacco-free and bars any tobacco product or electronic cigarette use inside the buffer. Outside that 50-foot zone, such as in a parking lot or picnic grove, the Park System Rules do not impose a general smoking ban.
Does the 50-foot tobacco buffer include e-cigarettes and vapes?
Yes. Section 9.27(L) covers any tobacco product or electronic cigarette, in any form, so vaping devices are treated the same as cigarettes, cigars or chewing tobacco within 50 feet of a designated playground, recreational field or facility. Park Police enforce the buffer the same way they enforce every other listed prohibited activity in section 9.
What's the penalty for vaping too close to a playground?
Park Police can write a County Ordinance ticket of $25 to $100 under section 12(B), or refer the case for a summary conviction under section 12(A), which carries a fine up to $600 plus restitution and up to 10 days in jail. The Director may also expel the person from the Park System for six months to two years.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Bucks County

All Bucks County rules

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