Lake County, CA Public Conduct: Outdoor Smoking Restrictions (2026)

Section 9-135 of the Lake County Code rolled the ban out in two phases. Ninety days after adoption, smoking and tobacco use became prohibited within 30 feet of the entrances and operable windows of buildings, and in the unenclosed areas of county-owned or leased property, recreation areas, service areas, and outdoor dining areas. One hundred eighty days after adoption, the ban expanded to cover the entire unenclosed area of those same categories of places countywide, not just the 30-foot perimeter. The ordinance carves out unenclosed areas of private residential property that are not multiunit residences, so a single-family backyard is exempt, but a common patio at an apartment complex is not.

Native American spiritual or cultural tobacco use is exempt under subsection (D). Section 9-134 defines the reach broadly: a "recreational area" covers parks, playgrounds, athletic fields, beaches, picnic areas, golf courses, walking paths, and skateboard parks; a "service area" covers anything within 30 feet of ATMs, bus stops, information kiosks, cab stands or service lines; and "unenclosed area" is simply any area that is not an "enclosed area," defined as space bounded by walls or windows covering more than 50 percent of the perimeter's vertical planes.

"Smoking" and "tobacco use" reach cannabis, nicotine and plant-product combustion or vaping, not just cigarettes. Section 9-136 separately bars a person in control of a property from allowing ashtrays or smoking receptacles within a no-smoking area, and bars anyone from discarding tobacco waste there. Section 9-137 requires a person in control of a covered area to post a clear "No Smoking"/"No Tobacco Use" sign at every entrance and at least one other conspicuous point, with letters at least one inch tall and the international no-smoking symbol; missing signage is not a defense to a violation.

A property owner may also go further and prohibit smoking anywhere on their property under subsection (C), even where the ordinance itself would not require it.