San Mateo County, CA Public Conduct: Outdoor Smoking Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Scope
- Unincorporated county + all county property
- Buffer around county buildings
- 30 feet
- Banned outdoor areas
- County parks, beaches and trails (named list)
- First-offense fine
- Up to $100
- Third-and-later offense fine
- Up to $500
- Enforcement
- San Mateo County Health Chief, Gov't Code §25132
Summary
San Mateo County bans smoking, including e-cigarettes and vaping, throughout its unincorporated area and on every county-owned or leased building wherever located. Section 4.96.040(c) extends the ban into every county-owned or maintained beach, park and trail, and subsection (a) creates a 30-foot smoke-free buffer around county buildings. Fines escalate for repeat offenders.
Smoking shall be prohibited: (a) Within any enclosed structure owned or leased by San Mateo County wherever located except private residences leased from the County, which are governed by the provisions of Chapter 4.97 of this Ordinance Code; and within thirty (30) feet in any direction from any enclosed structure owned by the County, as determined by the Director of Public Works, up to the edge of County property except areas that are less than thirty (30) feet from the enclosed structure that lie within a public roadway. (b) Within all enclosed areas available to, and customarily used by, the general public, in all businesses patronized by the public and all enclosed passageways between businesses. (c) Within any area, including public parking areas, of County-owned, operated or maintained beaches, parks and trails, including but not limited to the following: Coyote Point Marina; Coyote Point Park, Crystal Springs Trail, Edgewood Park and Natural Reserve, Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, Flood Park, Huddart Park, Junipero Serra Park, Memorial/Pescadero Park, Mirada Surf East and Mirada Surf West, Sanchez Adobe, Sam McDonald Park, San Bruno Mountain Park, San Pedro Valley Park, Woodside Store, and Wunderlich Park. ( Ord. No. 04877, § 1, 5-23-2023)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 47).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 4.96 applies to the unincorporated area of San Mateo County and to structures the county owns or leases anywhere (Section 4.96.010). Section 4.96.040 prohibits smoking in three settings: (a) inside any enclosed structure the county owns or leases, and within 30 feet of that structure up to the property line, except where that 30-foot zone falls inside a public roadway; (b) inside all enclosed areas customarily open to the public in businesses and the enclosed passageways connecting them; and (c) in any area, including parking areas, of county-owned, operated or maintained beaches, parks and trails, expressly naming Coyote Point Marina and Park, Crystal Springs Trail, Edgewood Park and Natural Reserve, Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, Flood Park, Huddart Park, Junipero Serra Park, Memorial/Pescadero Park, Mirada Surf East and West, Sanchez Adobe, Sam McDonald Park, San Bruno Mountain Park, San Pedro Valley Park, Woodside Store and Wunderlich Park.
The definition of 'smoking' in Section 4.96.030 is broad: it covers possessing a lighted tobacco, nicotine, herbal or marijuana cigarette, cigar, pipe or hookah, and specifically includes electronic cigarettes. Every regulated building or area must post 'No Smoking' signage at least one inch tall or the international no-smoking symbol under Section 4.96.110. Enforcement is led by the San Mateo County Health Chief or a designee (Section 4.96.140), any person may trigger enforcement by reporting a violation (Section 4.96.150), and enforcement proceeds under Government Code Section 25132 (Section 4.96.200).
Landlords who post signage as required are deemed compliant, but owners, managers and operators who fail to comply, and smokers who light up in a restricted area, are each independently liable under Sections 4.96.170 and 4.96.180.
Violations & Fines
Section 4.96.190 makes any violation an infraction: up to $100 for a first offense, up to $200 for a second, and up to $500 for each additional violation within one year. The San Mateo County Health Chief or designee pursues enforcement in the County's name under Government Code Section 25132, and retaliation against anyone who exercises rights under the ordinance is separately prohibited by Section 4.96.210.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I smoke on a San Mateo County beach or trail?
Does the county smoking ban apply inside cities like Redwood City?
Does vaping count as smoking under this ordinance?
What is the penalty for smoking in a banned area?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Mateo County
California rules heatmap·Compare San Mateo County to another location·View the California public conduct overview
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