Ulster County, NY Public Conduct: Outdoor Smoking Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies to
- All county-owned/leased property
- Penalty
- Up to $500 civil fine
- Enforcement
- Ulster County Board of Health
- Exemption
- Vehicles entering/exiting property
- Effective
- June 1, 2009
Summary
Ulster County bans smoking on all county-owned or leased property, including parks and building grounds, enforced by the Board of Health with fines up to $500.
Smoking shall be prohibited upon all real property owned or leased by the County of Ulster as set forth herein, except when located within a moving motor vehicle which is in the process of exiting or entering real property owned or leased by the County of Ulster.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4818905; v25 updated 2025-11-18; through 11-18-2025).
Full Breakdown
Ulster County Code § 301-3 prohibits smoking on all real property the County owns or leases, county parks, office buildings, the courthouse grounds and similar facilities, with the only exception being a moving vehicle passing through on its way on or off the property. The ban does not reach county roadways or rights-of-way under the County Highway System, and it does not extend to privately owned patios, restaurants, or parks belonging to towns, villages, or the City of Kingston, which follow New York's Clean Indoor Air Act or their own local rules instead. Required signage warns visitors at every covered entrance, and the Ulster County Board of Health enforces the ban through a written complaint and hearing process.
Violations & Fines
Smoking on county-owned property triggers a written complaint, hearing before the Board of Health, and a civil penalty up to $500 per violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I smoke in an Ulster County park?
Does the ban cover county roads?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ulster County
New York rules heatmap·Compare Ulster County to another location·View the New York public conduct overview
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