Ventura County, CA Public Conduct: Public Alcohol Use (2026)
Key Facts
- ABV threshold
- Over 0.5% alcohol by volume
- Covers
- Streets, sidewalks, parks, vehicles
- Containers
- No containers left on public ways
- Exception
- Permitted park social gatherings
Summary
Drinking beer, wine or liquor over 0.5% ABV on county streets, sidewalks, parks or in a vehicle is illegal throughout unincorporated Ventura County.
No person shall drink any malt, spirituous or vinous liquors containing more than one-half of one percent of alcohol by volume upon any street sidewalk, highway or alley, or while occupying any vehicle or conveyance thereon or upon any public school grounds or buildings, bleachers or stadium thereon, or in any public park or in or upon any building or premises or portion thereof which is owned or occupied by the County and in the unincorporated territory of the County.
6112-1 - Containers. No person shall deposit on any public way any receptacles or containers for alcoholic beverages.
6112-2 - Exclusion. The provisions of Section 6112 shall not prohibit the drinking of such alcoholic beverages:
(a)In or upon a public park when the same has been taken over by an organization for the purpose of a social gathering on the part of such organization, or(b)In or upon any building or premises or portion thereof which is owned or occupied by the County when said drinking is in or upon premises where the sale of alcoholic beverages is authorized by license or permit.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 51).
Full Breakdown
Ventura County's public-places ordinance prohibits drinking any malt, spirituous or vinous liquor over one-half of one percent alcohol by volume on streets, sidewalks, highways, alleys, in a vehicle, on school grounds, in parks, or in county-owned buildings within the unincorporated area. It's also illegal to leave alcohol containers on any public way. Exceptions exist for permitted social gatherings in parks taken over by an organization, and for licensed premises the county owns or occupies.
Violations & Fines
Violating the public-drinking or container-littering ban can result in citation and prosecution under the County's general Ordinance Code penalty provisions covering Division 6 police regulations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drink at a private party in a county park?
Does this apply in the City of Ventura?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ventura County
California rules heatmap·Compare Ventura County to another location·View the California public conduct overview
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