Santa Clara County Smoke-Free Air Ordinance NS-300.821, codified in Title D, is among California's strongest county-level smoke-free rules. It bans tobacco, vaping, and cannabis smoking in unincorporated multi-unit housing, outdoor dining, public events, parks, and within thirty feet of doorways and air intakes.
Santa Clara County's Smoke-Free Air Ordinance NS-300.821, adopted in 2010 and expanded since, is one of the strongest county-level smoke-free frameworks in California. Title D prohibits smoking in unincorporated common areas of multi-unit housing, outdoor dining patios, public events, county parks, service areas like ATM lines and bus stops, and within thirty feet of doorways, operable windows, and air intakes of public buildings. Definitions reach combustible tobacco, electronic cigarettes, hookah, and cannabis products. The Public Health Department's Tobacco-Free Communities program, the County Sheriff, and Parks rangers enforce. Cities including Palo Alto, Mountain View, and Cupertino layer additional smoke-free housing rules on top.
Violations are infractions with administrative fines starting around $100 and rising to $500 for repeat offenses under NS-300.821. Owners and businesses that fail to post signage or stop on-premises smoking face additional Public Health citations and license consequences.
See how Palo Alto's outdoor smoking restrictions rules stack up against other locations.
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