Santa Clarita, CA Public Conduct: Public Marijuana Use (2026)
Key Facts
- "Smoking" definition includes
- Tobacco, weed, plant, combustible substances
- Ban applies in
- Enclosed public places, workplaces
- Exempt
- Private residences, tobacco retail stores
- Hotel exemption
- Up to 50% of guest rooms
- Violation class
- Infraction (§ 9.50.070)
- Enforced by
- City Manager, code enforcement officers
Summary
Santa Clarita's smoking ordinance reaches marijuana, not just tobacco. Section 9.50.020 defines "smoke or smoking" to include burning any tobacco product, "weed, plant," or other combustible substance, so Section 9.50.050's ban on smoking in any public place applies equally to smoking cannabis.
"Smoke or smoking" means holding, carrying, burning, emitting, inhaling, or exhaling the fumes or vapor of a lighted or activated pipe, cigar, cigarette, electronic smoking device, or any other lighted smoking equipment used for burning any tobacco product, weed, plant, or any other combustible substance. ... § 9.50.050. Smoking in Public Places. A. Except as otherwise provided, it is unlawful for any person to smoke in any public place within the City of Santa Clarita.
Full Breakdown
020 defines "smoke or smoking" to include inhaling or exhaling fumes from burning "any tobacco product, weed, plant, or any other combustible substance," the public-place ban is not limited to cigarettes and covers smoking marijuana in the same locations. 050(B) exempts private residences (unless used as a licensed child care or health care facility), dwellings used for home occupations, retail tobacco or electronic-smoking-device stores, up to fifty percent of hotel and motel guest rooms, and certain private-club meeting rooms. 040 separately bans smoking, including marijuana smoking under the same definition, in workplaces of commercial enterprises, nonprofits, and city buildings. Owners of exempt areas may still designate them nonsmoking under subsection (C). 070 assigns enforcement to the City Manager and City code enforcement officers.
Violations & Fines
Any violation of Chapter 9.50, including smoking marijuana in a covered public place or workplace, is an infraction under Section 9.50.070, punishable in accordance with Section 1.01.210. The City Manager and code enforcement officers are the officials the chapter authorizes to enforce it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Santa Clarita's smoking ban cover marijuana?
Where exactly can't I smoke marijuana in public?
What's the penalty for smoking marijuana somewhere it's banned?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Clarita
California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Clarita to another location·View the California public conduct overview
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Public Marijuana Use in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle public marijuana use.