Cumberland County, NC Public Conduct: Outdoor Smoking Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- County Code Sec. 9.5-92
- Max civil fine
- $50.00
- Payment window
- 14 days from citation
- Sign lettering height
- 1 inch minimum
- Effective date
- January 1, 2014
- Exempt areas
- civic center, parks grounds
Summary
Cumberland County bans smoking inside every county-owned or leased building and on the outdoor grounds around them, plus in county vehicles. The ban exempts civic center and parks and recreation grounds, which have their own smoking rules set by their governing boards.
Smoking is prohibited within all public buildings; on the grounds of all public buildings except the civic center facilities and parks and recreation facilities; and in county-owned or leased vehicles. The civic center commission is authorized to develop rules and policies to regulate smoking on the grounds of civic center facilities. The parks and recreation advisory committee is authorized to develop rules and policies to regulate smoking on the grounds of parks and recreation facilities.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 8).
Full Breakdown
County Code Sec. 5-92 makes it unlawful to smoke inside any public building, on the outdoor grounds surrounding public buildings, or inside any county-owned or leased vehicle. The article defines "grounds" as all unenclosed property surrounding county buildings, so the ban reaches parking lots and walkways outside county offices, not just interiors. Two carve-outs exist: the civic center commission and the parks and recreation advisory committee are each authorized to write their own rules for smoking on the outdoor grounds of civic center facilities and parks and recreation facilities, so those specific outdoor areas are not automatically smoke-free under this article.
Sec. 5-94 requires "No Smoking" signs of at least one inch lettering, or the international no-smoking symbol, posted conspicuously at every building or place the ban covers, and it is a separate violation to remove or deface a required sign. Under Sec. 5-95, the county must strip ashtrays and smoking receptacles from banned areas, and the person in charge of a location must first direct a violator to stop before contacting the county's designated enforcement officer. The article took effect January 1, 2014, replacing an earlier 1993/1994-era version repealed and rewritten by a May 6, 2013 ordinance.
Violations & Fines
A first violation follows an oral or written warning; only failure to stop after that notice is an infraction, punishable by a civil fine up to $50.00 under Sec. 9.5-96(a). A person authorized by the board of commissioners sends the civil citation by certified mail or personal delivery, and the violator has 14 days from receipt to pay the county tax collector. County employees who violate the article also face discipline under the county's separate human resources policies under Sec. 9.5-96(b).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I smoke outside a county office building in Cumberland County?
What is the fine for smoking in a banned county area?
Are county parks smoke-free under this ordinance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cumberland County
Compare Cumberland 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.