Stanislaus County, CA Public Conduct: Public Marijuana Use (2026)
Key Facts
- Ban zone
- Within 20 feet of playgrounds
- Products covered
- Marijuana, vapes, cigars, cigarettes, nicotine
- Litter rule
- Bans discarding lit/unlit butts in zone
- Coverage
- Applies countywide under Title 18 parks
- Penalty
- Infraction under § 1.36.020
Summary
Stanislaus County Code § 18.06.350 bans smoking or vaporizing anything, expressly including marijuana, cigars, cigarettes, and other tobacco or nicotine products, within twenty feet of a public park playground, along with discarding lit or unlit butts there. The rule reaches every county park and recreation area under Title 18, and violators face an infraction citation.
It is unlawful to smoke or vaporize products of any kind, including, but not limited to, marijuana, cigars, cigarettes, and any tobacco or nicotine products, or to discard lighted or unlighted cigars or cigarettes within twenty feet of a public park playground and other areas as defined by state law.
Full Breakdown
350, adopted under Ordinance CS 1392 on April 29, 2025, makes it unlawful to smoke or vaporize products of any kind within twenty feet of a public park playground in a Stanislaus County recreation area. The list of covered products is explicit: marijuana is named alongside cigars, cigarettes, and any other tobacco or nicotine product, so a vape pen or a joint is treated the same as a cigarette for purposes of the twenty-foot buffer. The section also bans discarding a lighted or unlighted cigar or cigarette within that same zone, addressing litter and fire risk around play equipment rather than just the smoke itself.
Beyond the playground buffer, the section incorporates "other areas as defined by state law," pulling in California's broader smoke-free-park and cannabis-consumption restrictions without restating their exact distances in county text. 06's general recreation-area regulations, it applies to every county park, trail, and recreation facility under Title 18, including the reservoir recreation areas at Modesto and Woodward and the regional and neighborhood park systems alike, not just a single designated site. 260, with re-entry barred for up to twelve months and no refund of any fees paid.
Violations & Fines
Smoking or vaporizing marijuana, tobacco, or any nicotine product within twenty feet of a public park playground, or discarding a lit or unlit cigar or cigarette in that zone, is an infraction under § 18.06.190, enforceable under § 1.36.020. Park staff can also order violators to leave the recreation area under § 18.06.260, barring return for up to twelve months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I smoke marijuana in a Stanislaus County park?
Does the ban cover vaping too?
What if I just toss a cigarette butt near the playground?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Stanislaus County
California rules heatmap·Compare Stanislaus County to another location·View the California public conduct overview
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