Winnebago County, IL Public Conduct: Outdoor Smoking Restrictions (2026)

Chapter 50, Article VI (adopted by Ord. No. 95-CO-63 in 1995) prohibits smoking in all buildings, facilities, vehicles and equipment owned, leased or operated by Winnebago County, and specifically in front of the main entrance of every county building, under § 50-316. Section 50-317 then lists the county's only carve-outs: a vehicle designated a 'smoking vehicle' (one assigned to an employee who smokes, unless a non-smoker is riding along), a room in the courthouse/public safety building set by the facilities manager (with the sheriff able to designate a third-floor area of the public safety building for correctional officers only), the highway department's maintenance break room, an area at River Bluff Nursing Home set by its administrator, the third-floor employee break room of the administration building, and the garage area of the satellite jail.

Section 50-318 requires 'Smoking Prohibited' signage with the international no-smoking symbol posted at every county entrance. Section 50-319 makes it unlawful to smoke anywhere the article prohibits it, fined under § 1-11's general penalty schedule starting at not less than $25.00, and county employees who violate the article can also face separate workplace discipline. Section 50-320 makes clear the article doesn't override any stricter smoking law elsewhere, and § 50-321 set a target date of January 1, 2000 for the county to adopt a full no-smoking policy for all its buildings.