San Mateo County, CA Public Conduct: Public Alcohol Use (2026)
Key Facts
- General rule
- Beer/wine only in parks
- Exception
- Coyote Point designated areas
- Buffer zone
- 25 ft of watershed lots
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor (§3.68.010)
Summary
San Mateo County parks generally ban liquor other than beer or wine; hard alcohol is allowed only in designated areas of Coyote Point County Park under Section 3.68.080(t).
No person shall possess or consume alcoholic beverages, other than beer or wine, in any form within any County Park or Recreation area, or on the San Francisco Fish and Game Refuge. Alcoholic beverages as described herein are permitted at Coyote Point County Park only in designated areas and during designated times. No person shall possess or consume any alcoholic beverages in any form at the Coyote Point Rifle and Pistol Range, or within twenty-five (25) feet of the San Francisco Watershed vehicle parking lots or areas.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 47).
Full Breakdown
Section 3.68.080(t) of the County Park and Recreation Area Rules bars possessing or consuming any alcoholic beverage other than beer or wine in any County park, recreation area, or the San Francisco Fish and Game Refuge. Stronger alcohol is permitted only at Coyote Point County Park, in designated areas and during designated times, and no alcohol of any kind is allowed at the Coyote Point Rifle and Pistol Range or within 25 feet of San Francisco Watershed parking lots. Licensed concessionaires and permit holders are exempt. Violations of the chapter's park rules are misdemeanors under Section 3.68.010.
Violations & Fines
Possessing hard liquor outside the Coyote Point exception, or drinking near the rifle range or watershed lots, is a misdemeanor under the chapter's general penalty section.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bring hard liquor to a county park?
Is beer or wine allowed in all county parks?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Mateo County
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