Portland, OR Public Conduct: Outdoor Smoking Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies to
- All Portland city parks
- Covers
- Smoking, vaping, inhalant devices
- Exceptions
- Employee areas, ceremonial tobacco use
- Enforcement
- Civil penalty citation, § 20.12.260
- Citation
- Portland City Code § 20.12.110
Summary
Portland City Code bans lighting, smoking, or vaping in any city park, with limited exceptions for designated employee areas and Native American ceremonial tobacco use; violators face a civil penalty citation from the Parks Bureau.
A. A person must not light any fire in any park, except:
1. A person may operate a grill or stove in designated grill facilities and areas designated by the City Administrator, or by permit issued under Chapter 20.08.
B. A person must not possess or ignite any fireworks in any park.
C. A person must not: smoke, aerosolize, or vaporize an inhalant; activate an inhalant delivery system; or, carry a lighted smoking instrument in any park. For purposes of this Section, “smoking instrument” and “inhalant” have the same meaning as in ORS 433.835 and “inhalant delivery system” has the same meaning as in ORS 431A.175.
D. The City Administrator, in a manner consistent with the City’s Human Resource Administrative Rules, may establish designated smoking and tobacco use areas for:
1. Parks employees for whom there is no reasonably available non-parks property where smoking and tobacco use is allowed;
2. Smoking of noncommercial tobacco products for ceremonial purposes in spaces designated for traditional ceremonies in accordance with the American Indian Religious Freedom Act, 42 U.S.C. 1996, as well as for similar religious ceremonial uses for other cultural groups will be permitted. “Noncommercial tobacco products” means unprocessed tobacco plants or tobacco by-products used for ceremonial or spiritual purposes by Native Americans.
Full Breakdown
Portland City Code § 20.12.110 prohibits lighting any fire, igniting fireworks, or smoking, vaping, or using an inhalant delivery system anywhere in a city park. The ban covers combustible cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and vaporizers alike: the code defines 'smoking instrument' and 'inhalant' by reference to Oregon health statutes. Grills and stoves are allowed only in designated cooking areas or under a Chapter 20.08 permit. The City Administrator can carve out smoking areas for park employees with no other option and for Native American ceremonial tobacco use. Portland Parks & Recreation officers issue citations and civil penalty fines under § 20.12.260, appealable to the Code Hearings Office.
Violations & Fines
Violating the park smoking, fire, or fireworks ban draws a citation and civil penalty fine from the City Administrator; appeals go to the Code Hearings Office under Title 22.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I smoke on a patio inside a Portland park?
Does Portland's park smoking ban cover vapes and e-cigarettes?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Portland
Compare Portland to another location·View the Oregon public conduct overview
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Outdoor Smoking Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Multnomah County handle outdoor smoking restrictions.