Yolo County, CA Public Conduct: Outdoor Smoking Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Outdoor county property ban
- § 6-18.003(b), 4 designated exceptions
- Base fine
- Up to $100/violation, infraction
- Retaliation fine
- $250-$1,000 per violation
- Multiunit residence ban starts
- September 30, 2026
- Enforcing agency
- Yolo County Tobacco Prevention Program
- Private residences
- Exempt under § 6-18.005
Summary
Yolo County bans smoking on virtually all outdoor property it owns or leases, including parking lots, walkways and building grounds, under Section 6-18.003(b). Only four designated employee smoking spots survive, at the Day Reporting Center, the Sheriff's Office/Monroe/Juvenile detention facilities, the Public Defender's Office and the Yolo Emergency Communication Agency; private patios and residences aren't covered by this subsection.
Smoking is prohibited in all outdoor areas owned or leased by the county including, but not limited to, parking lots, walkways, and the grounds of all buildings owned or leased by the county. Smoking on county property will be allowed only at the following areas: (1) At the Day Reporting Center at the designated smoking area; (2) At the Sheriff's Office, Monroe Detention Center, and Juvenile Detention Facility in the designated employee smoking areas; (3) At the Public Defender's Office in all areas located 20 feet from entrances, exits, windows, and intake vents; (4) At the Yolo Emergency Communication Agency at the designated employee smoking areas.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-21: Supplement 2026 S-21 includes: Local legislation current through Ord. 1584, effective June 25, 2026).
Full Breakdown
003(b) of the Yolo County Code of Ordinances prohibits smoking in all outdoor areas owned or leased by the county, expressly naming parking lots, walkways and the grounds of county buildings, and permits smoking only at four designated employee locations: the Day Reporting Center, the Sheriff's Office/Monroe Detention Center/Juvenile Detention Facility, an area 20 feet from the Public Defender's Office entrances, exits, windows and intake vents, and the Yolo Emergency Communication Agency. Subsection (c) separately bans smoking in enclosed public places open to the public, such as restaurants, bars, retail stores, theaters, sports arenas and public meeting rooms, and subsection (d) extends that indoor ban into waiting areas, restrooms, service lines, elevators and common hallways.
005 exempts private residences (unless licensed as a care facility) and rented hotel or motel rooms. 006(b) will require posted 'No Smoking' signage at entrances, exits and common areas of those properties. The Yolo County Tobacco Prevention Program handles complaints and enforcement county-wide.
Violations & Fines
Smoking where the chapter prohibits it is an infraction carrying a civil fine of up to $100 per violation under Section 6-18.009(c), with each day of a continuing violation counted as a separate offense under subsection (d). The Yolo County Tobacco Prevention Program enforces the chapter and takes citizen complaints; anyone who intimidates, harasses or retaliates against a person seeking compliance faces a separate civil fine of $250 to $1,000 per violation under Section 6-18.009(j), and a private citizen may also bring legal action to enforce the chapter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I smoke in a county park or parking lot?
Is smoking banned on a restaurant patio in unincorporated Yolo County?
What's the penalty for smoking somewhere prohibited?
Will my apartment complex have to go smoke-free?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Yolo County
California rules heatmap·Compare Yolo County to another location·View the California public conduct overview
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