Grant County, WI Public Conduct: Outdoor Smoking Restrictions (2026)

Chapter 231, Smoking, was adopted by the Board of Supervisors of Grant County on 7-19-2005 as Ord. No. 48, with § 231-1 amended in 2011 and 2018. The rule is not a county-wide outdoor ban; it protects county property. No person shall smoke or use a cigarette, cigar, pipe, electronic delivery device or any other smoking equipment in any vehicles or buildings owned or leased by Grant County.

The outdoor piece is the buffer zone. The nonsmoking area includes the immediate 25 feet outside Grant County building entrances and Grant County building ventilation system air intakes. Where county-owned or leased property boundaries do not allow for the twenty-five-foot entrance requirement, the actual footage available applies. Other nonsmoking areas can be posted where a potential risk of explosion or fire exists.

The county posts the rule. Under § 231-2, a person designated by the Administrative Committee posts, in a conspicuous place at every Grant County outside building entrance, a "No Smoking" sign or the international "No Smoking" symbol, a burning cigarette in a red circle with a bar across it. It is unlawful to remove, deface or destroy a required sign or sticker, or to smoke where one is posted.

Enforcement is staged. Under § 231-3, a person found violating § 231-1 after being advised by a Grant County employee or officer that smoking is prohibited can be issued a citation by any law enforcement officer of Grant County, containing the information required by § 66.0113, Wis. Stats. The Corporation Counsel prosecutes citations and can file suit and contempt proceedings under § 231-4. Chapter 231 prints no rule for county parks, private patios or town property. The General References point to Ch. 110, Art. II for smoking in the County Jail and Ch. 250 for tobacco sales. The cities and villages in Grant County have their own codes.