Burke County, NC Public Conduct: Outdoor Smoking Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Covered property
- County buildings, vehicles, and outdoor grounds
- Includes
- Smoking, e-cigarettes, all tobacco products
- Signage required
- International no-smoking symbol at entrances
- Public fine
- Up to $50.00 infraction, no court costs
- Employee violations
- Handled under county personnel policy
- Adopted
- Ordinance of November 30, 2010
Summary
Smoking, vaping and any other tobacco use are banned everywhere the county owns, leases or operates, indoors and out, under Code § 56-2. That includes county-owned buildings and vehicles as well as any grounds, defined by § 56-1 as unenclosed county-controlled areas, such as the outdoor space around a county government building or park facility. Continued smoking after a warning is a $50.00 infraction under § 56-5.
Grounds means an unenclosed area owned, leased, or occupied by county government. ... Smoking, ... the use of e-cigarettes, and the use of any tobacco products is prohibited: (1)In any building owned, leased, occupied, or operated by the county;(2)In any vehicle owned, leased, or operated by the county; and(3)On any grounds that are owned, leased, occupied, or operated by the county. ... Pursuant to G.S. 130A-498(c1), the person committing the infraction may be punished by a fine of not more than $50.00 and may not be assessed court costs.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 56's smoking regulations, adopted November 30, 2010, prohibit smoking, the use of e-cigarettes, and the use of any tobacco products in three settings: any building owned, leased, occupied or operated by the county (§ 56-2(1)); any county-owned, leased or operated vehicle (§ 56-2(2)); and on any grounds owned, leased, occupied or operated by the county (§ 56-2(3)), which § 56-1 defines as an unenclosed area under county control, reaching outdoor space around county buildings and facilities. The county must post signs bearing the international no-smoking symbol at every building entrance and around the grounds, remove ashtrays and smoking receptacles, and post signage inside county vehicles where passengers can see it without interfering with safe operation, under §§ 56-3 and 56-4.
S. 00 with no assessed court costs, and can be asked to leave the property without receiving the service they came for. The county also runs public education under § 56-6, including brochures and free access to the North Carolina Tobacco Use Quitline.
Violations & Fines
Continuing to smoke, vape or use tobacco products on county-owned buildings, vehicles or grounds after being told to stop is an infraction under § 56-5, punishable by a fine of not more than $50.00 with no court costs assessed, pursuant to G.S. 130A-498(c1). Violators can also be asked to leave the property without receiving the service they came for. County employees instead face discipline under the county personnel policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I smoke outside a Burke County government building?
Does the smoking ban apply in county parks?
What's the fine for smoking in a banned area?
Does the county have to post no-smoking signs?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Burke County
Compare Burke County to another location·View the North Carolina public conduct overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.