Maricopa, AZ Public Conduct: Outdoor Smoking Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Smoking ban section
- MCC § 12.20.090
- Tobacco-use ban section
- MCC § 12.20.100
- Buffer zone
- 100 feet from playgrounds, courts, ramadas
- Smoking fine
- $100.00 flat fine
- Tobacco-use fine
- $100.00 flat fine
- Third-offense charge
- Misdemeanor under MCC § 1.10.010
Summary
Maricopa bans igniting a cigarette, cigar, pipe or other tobacco-smoking device in any city park, square, garden or playing field, and separately bans using any tobacco product there, under Chapter 12.20. Both bans extend 100 feet beyond playgrounds, sports courts, ramadas and other park buildings.
12.20.090 Smoking in public parks. It shall be unlawful for any person to ignite a tobacco cigarette, cigar or pipe or other tobacco-smoking device in any city park, square, garden and playing field or within 100 feet of playgrounds, sports courts, ramadas or other park buildings and infrastructures. 12.20.100 Use of tobacco in public parks. It shall be unlawful for any person to use or consume any tobacco related product in any park, square, garden and playing field or within 100 feet of playgrounds, sports courts, ramadas or other park buildings and infrastructures.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 26-10, passed April 21, 2026).
Full Breakdown
090 makes it unlawful to "ignite a tobacco cigarette, cigar or pipe or other tobacco-smoking device" inside a city park, square, garden or playing field, or within 100 feet of playgrounds, sports courts, ramadas or other park buildings and infrastructure. 100 goes further, separately banning use or consumption of "any tobacco related product" in those same locations and buffer zone, which reaches chewing tobacco and vaping devices that don't involve ignition. Both sections trace to the same 2006 ordinance (Ord. 06-14) that built out Title 12's park operation rules.
020(R) layer on a third, narrower ban: smoking, drinking alcohol or eating is unlawful inside any dog park or off-leash area specifically. 010. 00 fine for "Use of tobacco in the park," so a person who both lights a cigarette and separately uses smokeless tobacco can be cited under both provisions. Fines collected are deposited into the city's general fund.
Violations & Fines
Smoking (igniting a tobacco product) in a covered park area carries a $100.00 fine under MCC § 12.40.040, and using any tobacco product there (including non-ignited products) carries a separate $100.00 fine under the same fee schedule. Both are charged under the escalating scheme at § 12.40.020: first offense is a civil petty offense, second offense is a civil petty offense or misdemeanor, and a third offense becomes a misdemeanor punishable under MCC § 1.10.010, up to $2,500 and six months in jail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Maricopa's park smoking ban cover vaping and chewing tobacco?
How far from a playground do I have to be to smoke near a Maricopa park?
What's the fine for smoking in a Maricopa park?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Maricopa
Compare Maricopa to another location·View the Arizona public conduct overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.