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Santa Maria, CA Public Conduct: Public Alcohol Use (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Public drinking
Banned on all public property
Open container
Infraction under Bus. & Prof. Code §25620
Private property open to public
Drinking also banned, §6-5.03
Event exception
Written consent from Parks Director or Police Chief
Penalty
Misdemeanor under §6-5.07

Summary

Santa Maria makes it unlawful to drink any alcoholic beverage on public property citywide, and to possess an open container in a posted city park, under Municipal Code Section 6-5.02. The same restriction extends to privately owned property open to the public under Section 6-5.03, with permit-based exceptions for organized events.

(a) It shall be unlawful to drink any alcoholic beverage while upon any public property. It shall also be unlawful to consume any alcoholic beverages in any City park where posted according to Section 6-5.06. This prohibition does not apply if an exception applies under Section 6-5.04. (b) Pursuant to Section 25620 of the Business and Professions Code and any successor section, it shall be unlawful and an infraction to possess any can, bottle, or other receptacle containing any alcoholic beverage that has been opened, or a seal broken, or the contents of which have been partially removed, in any public property or City-owned park where posted according to Section 6-5.06.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4818069; v9 updated 2026-04-07).

Full Breakdown

06. 02(b), citing Business and Professions Code Section 25620, makes it an infraction to possess an opened can, bottle or other receptacle containing an alcoholic beverage, or one with a broken seal or partially removed contents, on public property or in a posted City-owned park. 03 extends the drinking ban to privately owned property that is open to the public, whether inside a vehicle or not. 05, and, for private-property events, a group with written consent from the Chief of Police kept on-site. 06 requires posted parks to carry signage reading substantially 'Consumption of an alcoholic beverage is prohibited. C. ' Ordinance 2015-17, effective January 15, 2016, most recently amended the chapter.

Violations & Fines

Section 6-5.07 makes violation of any section in Chapter 6-5 a misdemeanor, notwithstanding the general infraction default in Section 1-6.01. The open-container provision under Section 6-5.02(b) is instead charged as an infraction per Business and Professions Code Section 25620. The Director of Recreation and Parks or any City Police Officer can immediately revoke event consent without notice for a violation of any permit condition or law.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I drink a beer in a Santa Maria city park?
Only if the park is not posted against it and none of the exceptions apply; otherwise Section 6-5.02(a) bans consuming alcohol on any public property, including parks, and a posted park adds a specific alcohol-consumption prohibition under Section 6-5.06.
Is an unopened bottle in my car a problem?
No. Section 6-5.02(b) only makes it an infraction to possess a can, bottle or other container with an alcoholic beverage that has been opened, had its seal broken, or had contents partially removed while on public property or in a posted city park.
Can a business host a beer garden on its parking lot?
Yes, but Section 6-5.03 bans public alcohol consumption on private property open to the public unless the host first gets written consent from the Chief of Police under Section 6-5.04(b) and keeps that consent on site during the event.

Sources & Official References

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