Owensboro, KY Public Conduct: Outdoor Smoking Restrictions (2026)

Article XI of Chapter 16, enacted by Ordinance No. 23-2014, prohibits smoking in city parks, restaurants, bars, and any area covered by a city encroachment or special-events permit (Sec. 16-278(a)). The definitions in Sec. 16-277 do the real work: a restaurant includes any bar area within it and any outdoor area where food or drink is served, whether enclosed or not, and all areas where food or beverages are served or consumed at a restaurant count as public places, so a patio or sidewalk cafe tied to a restaurant is covered along with the dining room.

A public park reaches every public area of a designated park, including ballparks, basketball and tennis courts, skate parks, and bicycle trails. The public-place definition also extends the ban to within twenty-five feet of outside entrances, operable windows, and outdoor seating areas. Owners, managers, and employees may not permit smoking in a regulated area, and must direct a smoker to stop, refuse service if they continue, and ask them to leave; if the person will not leave, staff call law enforcement (Sec. 16-278(b), 16-279(d)). Police, the fire department, code enforcement officers, and the city manager or a designee enforce the article, including during routine business inspections (Sec. 16-279). No Smoking signs or the international no-smoking symbol must be posted where smoking is barred, and ashtrays removed from those areas (Sec. 16-281).