St. Joseph County, IN Public Conduct: Outdoor Smoking Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Parks
- Smoking banned in all county/city/town parks (§ 96.03(L))
- Buffer zone
- No smoking near smoke-free building entrances (§ 96.06)
- Enforcement
- County health department, complaint-driven (§ 96.08)
- Penalty
- Infraction fine per schedule of fines and fees (§ 96.09)
- Repeat violations
- 3rd offense may require complainant affidavit (§ 96.08(B))
- Appeal
- Board of health appeal procedure (Res. R3-06)
Summary
St. Joseph County bans smoking in all county, city, township and town parks and recreational areas under Section 96.03(L) of its smoking ordinance, and it separately bars smoking close enough to any building's entrances, windows or vents that tobacco smoke could drift into a smoke-free indoor area under Section 96.06. Violators face an infraction fine processed through the county health department, which can refer repeat offenders to the county prosecutor's office.
§ 96.03. Prohibition of smoking in public places and certain places of employment. Smoking shall be prohibited in all public places within St. Joseph County, unless exempted by section 96.05, including but not limited to the following areas:...(L)All St. Joseph County, city, township and town municipally owned, leased and/or operated parks and recreational areas. § 96.06. Outside distance. Smoking is prohibited within such distance outside any portion of an enclosed area where smoking is prohibited, to prevent tobacco smoke from entering the restricted area through entrances, windows, ventilation systems or other means.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 3).
Full Breakdown
03 prohibits smoking in public places countywide, and paragraph (L) specifically names every county, city, township and town municipally owned, leased or operated park and recreational area as a smoke-free area alongside restaurants that admit minors, retail stores and shopping malls, restrooms and common-use areas, elevators, aquariums, art galleries, libraries, zoos, museums, theaters, sports arenas, football stadiums, convention halls, indoor driving ranges, miniature golf courses, healthcare facilities, polling places, and bowling alleys outside an enclosed bar area. 06 layers on a buffer rule for those smoke-free areas: smoking is barred within whatever distance outside an entrance, window or ventilation system is needed to keep tobacco smoke from drifting back into the restricted space, so a smoker cannot simply step just outside a park building's doorway.
03. 07, anywhere smoking is banned must post "No Smoking" signs or the international no-smoking symbol at every entrance, and ashtrays or matchbooks may not be left out in those areas. 08 lets anyone lodge a complaint by phone, mail, electronic message or in person, and the department can require a sworn affidavit once an establishment faces a third violation. The department refers cases to the county prosecutor's office when fines alone will not secure compliance.
Violations & Fines
Anyone who owns, manages or controls a public place and lets smoking happen where it is barred is guilty of a violation punished under the county's schedule of fines and fees, with the money deposited into a dedicated health department enforcement account. A person who smokes in a banned area is separately guilty of an infraction carrying its own fine, and each day a violation continues counts as a distinct offense. The board of health's appeal procedure lets any establishment contest a finding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I smoke in a St. Joseph County park?
How close to a restaurant entrance can I smoke?
How does someone report a smoking violation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Joseph County
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