Union County, NJ Public Conduct: Outdoor Smoking Restrictions (2026)

Chapter 128, the county's Smoking Policy, defines smoking to include burning, inhaling or possessing a lit cigar, cigarette or pipe, and separately defines vaping to cover e-cigarettes, e-pipes, e-hookahs and e-cigars. A bans smoking and vaping in all areas of county buildings and structures, listing work areas, hallways, elevators, cafeterias, garages and county-operated vehicles, and extends the ban to within 25 feet of any ingress or egress to a county-owned or leased building. B separately bans smoking and vaping in all county-owned recreational areas and facilities, naming boating facilities, ice-skating facilities, playgrounds, running tracks, snack bars, swimming pools, ball fields, tennis courts and the Watchung Stables, and bars smoking or vaping within 50 feet of those facilities as well.

C lets the County Manager, with the Board of County Commissioners' advice and consent, extend the smoking and vaping ban to County-sponsored events such as concerts, fairs, festivals and movies. The county requires signage at every affected building entrance, recreational facility and event under each subsection. A: a member of the public must first be told to stop before a fine applies.