Sparks, NV Public Conduct: Outdoor Smoking Restrictions (2026)

Section 12.24.056 of the Sparks Municipal Code, part of Chapter 12.24 governing city parks, prohibits smoking and vaping inside any city park. The Parks and Recreation Department defines "smoking" broadly under Section 12.24.010(D) to cover inhaling and exhaling smoke from tobacco or a controlled substance, including marijuana, by any method, cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, pipes and hookahs included, and defines "vaping" under Section 12.24.010(E) the same way for vapor products such as e-cigarettes. The ban carries a built-in warning requirement: Section 12.24.056(B) bars a citation unless the person continues smoking or vaping after a city employee or officer, or any law enforcement officer, has told them the conduct violates the section.

Two carve-outs apply. Section 12.24.056(C) exempts the Victorian Square special event venue as defined in Section 9.42.010(E), so smoking there during a permitted event isn't a park violation. Section 12.24.056(D) exempts chewing tobacco outright, since it involves no smoke or vapor. The rule sits alongside other Chapter 12.24 park controls enforced by park rangers, employees of the Parks and Recreation Department whose primary job under Section 12.24.010(B) is enforcing park rules, including the park hours in Section 12.24.030 and the fire restrictions in Section 12.24.050.

Amended most recently by Ordinance 2555 in June 2018, Section 12.24.056 reflects the city's move to fold e-cigarettes and vapor products into its existing park smoking controls.