Murrieta, CA Public Conduct: Outdoor Smoking Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Parks covered
- All city parks, sports fields, dog parks, trails
- Vaping included
- Yes, electronic smoking devices banned too
- Buffer distance
- 15 feet minimum from restricted areas
- Enforcement
- Code enforcement, police, or citizen civil action
- Penalty class
- Infraction under Sec. 1.32.010
Summary
Murrieta bans smoking, including vaping, in every city park, sports facility, and outdoor dining area, plus anywhere people queue for a service like bus stops or ATMs, and requires a 15-foot buffer from prohibited enclosed areas.
Smoking shall be prohibited in the following unenclosed places: 1. Dining areas that are part of a restaurant, business, nonprofit entity, place of employment, or located in any public place; 2. Any parks, recreation areas, sports arenas, and parking lots located in a park or recreation area; 3. Any place where people are using or waiting for a service, entry, or a transaction whether or not such service includes the exchange of money including, but not limited to, ATMs, bank teller windows, telephones, ticket lines, bus stops and cab stands.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-23: A Codification of the General Ordinances of the City of Murrieta, California through Ord. 634-26, passed 7-7-2026).
Full Breakdown
23 of the Murrieta Code of Ordinances extends the smoking ban well beyond indoor spaces. 040(C) prohibits smoking in specific unenclosed places: dining areas at any restaurant, business, nonprofit, or place of employment; "any parks, recreation areas, sports arenas, and parking lots located in a park or recreation area"; anywhere people are using or waiting for a service or transaction such as ATMs, bank teller windows, telephones, ticket lines, bus stops, and cab stands; posted "Tobacco Free Zone" school grounds, where tobacco possession itself is also banned; and any other location posted with a "No Smoking" sign under the chapter.
030 to include not just lit cigarettes, cigars, and pipes but "the use of an electronic smoking device which creates an aerosol or vapor," so vaping in a city park violates the same section as lighting a cigarette. "Parks and recreation areas" is defined to sweep in public parks, picnic areas, playgrounds, sports fields, dog parks, walking paths, hiking trails, bike paths, and parking areas within a park. 040(D) bars anyone from placing ashtrays or ash cans inside that 15-foot buffer or any other prohibited area.
130 is handled by the city manager or designees, any peace officer, or code enforcement officer, and any citizen can register a complaint with the city manager's office; the chapter also lets a private citizen bring a civil legal action to enforce the ban directly.
Violations & Fines
Section 5.23.140 makes it unlawful for any person to smoke in a restricted area or for any owner, manager, operator, or employer who controls covered premises to fail to comply, and any violation is "guilty of an infraction and punishable according to Section 1.32.010 of this code," which sets fines up to $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second within a year, and $500 for each further repeat. Administrative decisions can be appealed to the city council under Section 5.23.150.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I vape in a Murrieta city park?
How close to a restaurant patio can someone smoke in Murrieta?
What is the fine for smoking in a banned outdoor area in Murrieta?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Murrieta
California rules heatmap·Compare Murrieta to another location·View the California public conduct overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Outdoor Smoking Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Riverside County handle outdoor smoking restrictions.