Kent, WA Public Conduct: Outdoor Smoking Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- KCC 4.01.135
- Adopted
- Ord. No. 4246, June 6, 2017
- Exception
- Riverbend Golf Course facility only
- Covers
- Vaping, chewing tobacco, cigars, hookahs
- Penalty
- Class 3 civil infraction, RCW 7.80.120(1)(c)
Summary
Kent prohibits smoking, vaping, or using any tobacco product on city park property, including e-cigarettes, chewing tobacco, cigars, and hookahs, with the sole exception of the Riverbend Golf Course. A violation of KCC 4.01.135 is a heightened class 3 civil infraction.
It is unlawful for any person to smoke, vape, or use tobacco products in or on any park property or park facility, excluding the Riverbend Golf Course facility. This prohibition includes both noncombustible products, like e-cigarettes or other vaping devices that produce smoke or vapor, and dipping tobacco, chewing tobacco, snuff, or snus; and combustible products, like paper cigarettes, cigarillos, or cigars, pipes, and hookahs. If the product emits smoke, or vapor, or contains tobacco, it is prohibited.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 4542, passed June 16, 2026).
Full Breakdown
135, adopted by Ord. No. 4246 in 2017, makes it unlawful for any person to smoke, vape, or use tobacco products in or on any park property or park facility, with a single carve-out for the Riverbend Golf Course facility. The ban reaches both noncombustible products, meaning e-cigarettes and other vaping devices that produce smoke or vapor along with dipping tobacco, chewing tobacco, snuff, and snus, and combustible products, meaning paper cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars, pipes, and hookahs; the code states plainly that if the product emits smoke or vapor, or contains tobacco, it is prohibited on park property.
01 to include every city-owned or controlled park, public square, garden, playground, athletic complex, community center, museum, trail, body of water, dock, pier, moorage float, beach, and parking lot or garage located within those areas. Enforcement is carried out by Kent police and parks staff. 120(1)(c), a higher-penalty infraction than the class 1 infraction that governs most other park rule violations.
Violations & Fines
Smoking, vaping, or using any tobacco product on Kent park property outside Riverbend Golf Course is a class 3 civil infraction under RCW 7.80.120(1)(c), per KCC 4.01.220(A)(2), a stiffer penalty tier than the class 1 infraction used for most other parks-chapter violations. Each day the conduct occurs is charged as a separate offense under KCC 4.01.220(A)(3).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I vape in a Kent city park?
What counts as tobacco use under Kent's park smoking ban?
What is the penalty for smoking in a Kent park?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kent
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Outdoor Smoking Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle outdoor smoking restrictions.