Rancho Cordova, CA Public Conduct: Outdoor Smoking Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- RCMC § 6.84.030(A)(26)
- Buffer distance
- 20 feet from prohibited outdoor areas
- First infraction fine
- Up to $100.00
- Escalating fines
- $200 second, $500 each further violation
- Misdemeanor trigger
- 4th violation within 12 months
- Private enforcement
- Civil suit after 60-day notice, $150 minimum damages
Summary
Rancho Cordova bans smoking in a long list of outdoor public spaces: Municipal Code Section 6.84.030(A)(26) prohibits it in parks, plazas, outdoor dining patios, children's play areas and public events, and within 20 feet of those areas or any building where smoking is barred, whichever distance is greater.
Smoking shall be prohibited in the following public unenclosed and outdoor areas, and smoking, except while passing on the way to another destination, shall be prohibited within 20 feet of or close enough to the following areas for smoke to travel into an area or building where smoking is prohibited, whichever is greater: ... Parks, open space, trails, and recreation areas.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4660102; v2 updated 2026-03-02; through 03-02-2026).
Full Breakdown
010). 020 defines 'smoking' broadly to include lighted or heated cigars, cigarettes, pipes, hookahs and any tobacco or plant product including marijuana, plus electronic smoking devices that create an aerosol or vapor. 030(A)(26) extends the ban outdoors: smoking is prohibited at public events such as farmers' markets, festivals and concerts; outdoor dining and patio areas of restaurants and bars; entrances, entryways and stairways of enclosed public areas; courtyards where air circulation is impeded; areas not open to the sky; ATM, bus stop and other service-wait areas; anywhere food or drink is sold and within 20 feet of it; children's play areas; public gardens; plazas; and parks, open space, trails and recreation areas.
The prohibition also reaches within 20 feet of, or close enough for smoke to drift into, any of those areas or an indoor space where smoking is barred, whichever distance is greater, except while a smoker is merely passing through. 100.
Violations & Fines
Section 6.84.090 makes each instance of smoking in violation a separate offense and declares any violation a public nuisance. As an infraction, a first violation carries a fine up to $100.00, a second within a year up to $200.00, and each further violation up to $500.00; a fourth violation within 12 months can be charged as a misdemeanor. A private citizen may also sue to enforce the chapter after 60 days' written notice to the city attorney, with courts awarding at least $150.00 in statutory damages absent proof of actual harm.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I smoke in a Rancho Cordova park or on a restaurant patio?
How close to a no-smoking area can I smoke outdoors?
What fines apply for violating the outdoor smoking ban?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rancho Cordova
California rules heatmap·Compare Rancho Cordova to another location·View the California public conduct overview
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How other cities in Sacramento County handle outdoor smoking restrictions.