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Public Conduct in Washington (2026)

160 rules on the books across Washington, 33 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.

Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions

Aggressive Panhandling

LAMC §41.59 prohibits panhandling that involves intimidation, blocking, or following a person, including penalties and how it differs from passive solicitation.

Bellevue

Significant Restrictions

Bellevue criminalizes aggressive begging, defined as asking for money or goods with intent to intimidate someone into…

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Everett

Significant Restrictions

Everett makes it a misdemeanor to beg in a way that intentionally blocks someone's path, or to beg using words or…

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Lakewood

Significant Restrictions

Lakewood, Washington makes aggressive begging a misdemeanor citywide. LMC Chapter 9.04 bars intimidating, following or…

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Lynnwood

Significant Restrictions

Lynnwood Municipal Code § 10.02.140 makes 'aggressive solicitation' a misdemeanor: intentionally soliciting anything of…

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Pasco

Significant Restrictions

Pasco does not single out "aggressive" panhandling; it bans all panhandling on the premises of any retail, commercial…

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Pierce County

Significant Restrictions

Pierce County makes it unlawful to solicit by coercion, defined to include threats, blocking someone's path, persisting…

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Port Townsend

Significant Restrictions

Port Townsend bans aggressive begging citywide, covering intimidation, unsafe conduct, and pressured unsolicited…

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Puyallup

Significant Restrictions

Puyallup makes it pedestrian interference to aggressively beg, meaning begging with intent to intimidate someone into…

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Spokane Valley

Significant Restrictions

Spokane Valley makes it a misdemeanor to solicit money, goods, services, or signatures with intent to intimidate…

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Tacoma

Significant Restrictions

Tacoma bans soliciting within 15 feet of ATMs, doorways, pay phones, fuel pumps, and transit stops, plus after dark…

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Seattle

Some Restrictions

SMC 12A.12.015 makes it a misdemeanor "pedestrian interference" offense to aggressively beg in a public place: defined…

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Public Urination

LAMC §41.47.2 prohibits urinating or defecating in public, including the citation amount, exemptions for medical conditions, and where to find restroom alternatives.

Bellingham

Heavy Restrictions

Bellingham makes it unlawful to intentionally urinate or defecate somewhere the public can observe it: streets…

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Kirkland

Heavy Restrictions

Kirkland Municipal Code § 11.20.070 makes it a misdemeanor to intentionally urinate or defecate anywhere in public…

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Kitsap County

Heavy Restrictions

It is a criminal misdemeanor in unincorporated Kitsap County to intentionally urinate or defecate in a public place, or…

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Lynnwood

Heavy Restrictions

Lynnwood Municipal Code § 10.04.745 makes it a misdemeanor to intentionally urinate or defecate anywhere other than a…

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Marysville

Heavy Restrictions

Urinating or defecating anywhere in public other than a washroom or toilet room is a misdemeanor in Marysville…

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Pasco

Heavy Restrictions

Pasco makes urinating or defecating anywhere other than a washroom or toilet a criminal "lewd act" under PMC 9.25.030…

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Pierce County

Heavy Restrictions

Pierce County makes it unlawful to urinate or defecate anywhere in its park system except into a fixture built for that…

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Puyallup

Heavy Restrictions

Puyallup makes it a criminal misdemeanor to urinate or defecate in public. The disorderly conduct chapter reaches any…

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Seattle

Heavy Restrictions

Seattle Municipal Code 12A.10.100 makes it unlawful to intentionally urinate or defecate in any public place, streets…

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Spokane County

Heavy Restrictions

Urinating or defecating anywhere in a Spokane County park or facility other than the designated fixtures is a flat…

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Tacoma

Heavy Restrictions

Tacoma makes it a misdemeanor to intentionally urinate or defecate anywhere in public where the act could be observed…

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Thurston County

Heavy Restrictions

Thurston County makes it a crime to urinate or defecate in public: Thurston County Code § 10.88.040 says a person is…

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Yakima

Heavy Restrictions

Yakima makes it a misdemeanor to urinate or defecate in any public place, or any place open or available to the public…

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Bellevue

Significant Restrictions

Bellevue makes it a misdemeanor to intentionally urinate or defecate in public, anywhere other than a washroom or…

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Everett

Significant Restrictions

Everett makes it a misdemeanor to intentionally urinate or defecate anywhere in public other than a washroom or toilet…

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Sammamish

Significant Restrictions

Sammamish treats a first public urination or defecation offense as a civil infraction carrying up to a $250 fine; a…

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Auburn

Some Restrictions

Auburn's disorderly conduct ordinance, ACC 9.78.010(A)(8), makes it a misdemeanor to urinate or defecate anywhere open…

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Benton County

Some Restrictions

Benton County Code 6.30.020 makes it a civil infraction, capped at a $100 fine, for anyone to urinate in a public place…

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Edmonds

Some Restrictions

Edmonds treats public urination or defecation outside a restroom as a form of unlawful public exposure under ECC…

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Federal Way

Some Restrictions

Federal Way makes it a misdemeanor to intentionally urinate or defecate in public under FWRC 6.45.090. The Public…

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Kennewick

Some Restrictions

Kennewick makes it a misdemeanor to intentionally urinate or defecate anywhere in public other than a washroom or…

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Kent

Some Restrictions

Intentionally urinating or defecating in a public place in Kent, where any member of the public could observe it, is an…

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King County

Some Restrictions

Unincorporated King County bans public urination and defecation for anyone over 12, but only outside the county's urban…

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Lakewood

Some Restrictions

Lakewood, Washington makes it disorderly conduct, a criminal misdemeanor, to urinate or defecate in any place open to…

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Skagit County

Some Restrictions

It is unlawful under SCC Chapter 9.36 for anyone to urinate or defecate in a public place in unincorporated Skagit…

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Snohomish County

Some Restrictions

Intentionally urinating or defecating in public where anyone could observe it is a civil infraction in unincorporated…

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Spokane Valley

Some Restrictions

Spokane Valley fines a first offense of intentionally urinating or defecating in public up to $100 as a civil…

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Skateboarding Rules

LAMC §56.15 and §63.44 limits on skateboarding on sidewalks, in parks, and in commercial corridors, including helmet requirements and skate-park designations.

Lynnwood

Heavy Restrictions

Lynnwood Municipal Code Section 11.58.020 bans skateboards, go-carts and similar unbraked devices like sleds and roller…

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Auburn

Significant Restrictions

Auburn bans skateboarding and roller skating on any street, alley, sidewalk or public parking lot within the downtown…

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Bellingham

Significant Restrictions

Skateboarding is flatly illegal on the streets, sidewalks, alleys, and parking lots of downtown Bellingham's central…

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Cowlitz County

Significant Restrictions

Unincorporated Cowlitz County does not ban skateboarding outright, but its Code of Conduct and Trespass chapter names…

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Edmonds

Significant Restrictions

ECC 5.46.050 bans skateboards, roller skates and coasters on every arterial street in Edmonds and on sidewalks in five…

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Everett

Significant Restrictions

Everett bans skateboards, roller skates, in-line skates and coasters entirely from sidewalks and roadways in the…

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Port Townsend

Significant Restrictions

Port Townsend bans skateboard riding on downtown business-district streets and sidewalks, plus Union Wharf and City…

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Puyallup

Significant Restrictions

Puyallup bans skateboards, roller skates, coasters, in-line skates and motorized foot scooters from every publicly…

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Yakima

Significant Restrictions

Yakima bans roller skating, bicycling and skateboarding on any public or private sidewalk, mall or pedestrian way…

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Bellevue

Some Restrictions

Bellevue keeps roller skates, coasters, toy vehicles and similar wheeled devices, the category skateboards fall under…

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Federal Way

Some Restrictions

Federal Way lets the parks director post signs that ban skateboards, bicycles, coasters, and skates in specific park…

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Kirkland

Some Restrictions

Kirkland bans skateboarding at three specific public sites: Peter Kirk Park, the City Hall grounds, and the Plaza of…

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Marysville

Some Restrictions

Marysville allows skateboards on city sidewalks but caps speed at 10 mph and bans reckless riding, with a $50 civil…

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Renton

Some Restrictions

Riding a skateboard or rollerblading anywhere within Renton's Transit Center, except on the roadway's legally travelled…

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Sammamish

Some Restrictions

Sammamish Municipal Code § 7A.08.010 caps travel speed at 15 miles per hour in every city open space, trail, park area…

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Tacoma

Some Restrictions

Tacoma bans negligent skateboarding, scooter riding, and skating on any roadway, sidewalk, or public property, and…

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Kent

Light Restrictions

In Kent parks, pedestrians always have the right-of-way over skateboards, bikes, and other wheeled traffic under KCC…

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Pasco

Light Restrictions

Pasco bans skateboards, in-line skates, roller skates, and bicycles on tennis courts and stages in city parks outright…

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Seattle

Light Restrictions

SMC 11.40.255 requires skateboarders and roller-skaters on Seattle sidewalks and public paths to move in a careful…

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Spokane County

Light Restrictions

Anyone riding a skateboard on a public road, sidewalk, bike path, park or other public area in unincorporated Spokane…

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Spokane Valley

Light Restrictions

Spokane Valley allows skateboarding and rollerblading on designated pathways and sidewalks in city parks unless the…

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Loud Party Ordinance

LAMC §41.40 unruly-gathering ordinance allowing police to cite hosts for second-response calls, including escalating fines and permit-revocation triggers.

Loitering Rules

Constitutional limits on loitering ordinances post-Papachristou and Morales, and what conduct LA can still penalize (e.g., loitering with intent to commit specific crimes).

Thurston County

Heavy Restrictions

Thurston County bans loitering that blocks a doorway, sidewalk, street or alley. County Code Section 10.48.010 makes it…

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Bellevue

Significant Restrictions

Bellevue makes it a gross misdemeanor to remain in a public place while intentionally soliciting, inducing, or…

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Federal Way

Significant Restrictions

Federal Way makes it unlawful to loiter near any public place under circumstances that manifest intent to engage in…

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Lynnwood

Significant Restrictions

Lynnwood Municipal Code § 10.04.710 makes it a misdemeanor to remain in a public place while intentionally soliciting…

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Pierce County

Significant Restrictions

Pierce County makes it a misdemeanor to loiter without lawful purpose around school grounds while school is in session…

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Puyallup

Significant Restrictions

Puyallup does not have a general vagrancy-style loitering ordinance. Its one loitering rule is narrow: it is disorderly…

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Seattle

Significant Restrictions

Seattle Municipal Code 12A.10.010 makes it a misdemeanor to remain in a public place while intentionally soliciting…

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Snohomish County

Significant Restrictions

Snohomish County's only loitering ordinance covers its own airport, Paine Field: no one may disrupt, slow, or impede…

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Tacoma

Significant Restrictions

Tacoma outlaws loitering anywhere in public that shows intent to engage in drug activity, weighing factors like acting…

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Yakima

Significant Restrictions

Yakima bars loitering in public with the manifest purpose of soliciting prostitution, but officers must first let the…

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Auburn

Some Restrictions

Auburn Municipal Code Chapter 9.50 defines loitering and lets police order people to move on when they block streets…

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Benton County

Some Restrictions

Benton County's code carries no general anti-loitering ordinance for the unincorporated area; the only loitering…

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King County

Some Restrictions

Unincorporated King County bans loitering or prowling when the circumstances signal an unlawful purpose or create real…

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Kirkland

Some Restrictions

Kirkland makes it a violation to remain in or loiter within any city park or recreation area while intoxicated. KMC…

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Lakewood

Some Restrictions

Lakewood, Washington bans loitering that obstructs streets, sidewalks or businesses under LMC Chapter 9.11. Rather than…

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Marysville

Some Restrictions

Marysville Municipal Code Chapter 6.36 makes it a misdemeanor to loiter without lawful purpose on or near any public or…

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Pasco

Some Restrictions

Pasco bars loitering or prowling in a place, time, or manner unusual for law-abiding people when the circumstances…

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Renton

Some Restrictions

Renton makes it a civil infraction to loiter, meaning to remain, for 60 consecutive minutes or more, within the…

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Sammamish

Some Restrictions

Sammamish Municipal Code § 7A.07.010 makes loitering in restrooms unlawful across every city open space, trail, park…

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Spokane County

Some Restrictions

Unincorporated Spokane County bars anyone under 15 from loitering or congregating on streets, highways, or public…

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Outdoor Smoking Restrictions

LAMC §41.50 + LA County smoking bans in parks, beaches, restaurants, outdoor dining, and within 25 ft of business entrances; enforcement and signage rules.

Auburn

Heavy Restrictions

Auburn bans smoking, vaping, and all tobacco use in every city park except its golf courses under ACC 2.22.085. The…

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King County

Heavy Restrictions

Smoking, including e-cigarettes, is banned on all King County Metro transit vehicles, bus shelters and transit…

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Kirkland

Heavy Restrictions

Kirkland bans smoking and tobacco use of any kind in every city park. KMC 11.80.216 covers cigarettes, herbal…

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Kitsap County

Heavy Restrictions

Kitsap County Code § 10.32.030 makes it unlawful to smoke on the floats at Kingston Marina, the county-owned moorage…

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Lynnwood

Heavy Restrictions

Lynnwood bans smoking and vaping outright in every public park under LMC 10.16.020(L). The prohibition reaches…

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Marysville

Heavy Restrictions

Smoking cigarettes, cigars, tobacco or e-cigarettes anywhere within a Marysville city park is unlawful, with signs…

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Port Townsend

Heavy Restrictions

Port Townsend outlaws smoking and vaping in every city park under PTMC 11.02.025. The ban covers trails, beaches…

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Tacoma

Heavy Restrictions

Tacoma bans smoking or vaping any nicotine product anywhere in a city or Metropolitan Park District park, with a narrow…

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Thurston County

Heavy Restrictions

Thurston County bans smoking, vaping and marijuana use across its entire park system: Thurston County Code § 10.76.430…

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Edmonds

Significant Restrictions

Edmonds bans smoking and vaping, including cigarettes, cigars, tobacco, marijuana and e-cigarettes, in every city park…

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Federal Way

Significant Restrictions

Federal Way bans smoking and vaping in city parks, facilities, and restrooms outright, and bars tobacco or vapor use…

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Kent

Significant Restrictions

Kent prohibits smoking, vaping, or using any tobacco product on city park property, including e-cigarettes, chewing…

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Puyallup

Significant Restrictions

Puyallup prohibits smoking cigars, cigarettes, tobacco or any other lighted material, and vaping, anywhere in city…

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Sammamish

Significant Restrictions

Sammamish adopts Washington's statewide public-place smoking law wholesale: SMC 70.05.010 incorporates RCW 70.160.030…

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Skagit County

Significant Restrictions

Skagit County bans smoking and vaping in outdoor public places controlled by a child care facility or school, and…

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Bellingham

Some Restrictions

Bellingham bans smoking, including vaping on electronic smoking devices, in any city-owned or city-operated public…

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Cowlitz County

Some Restrictions

Unincorporated Cowlitz County bans tobacco use, including vaping, in or within 25 feet of playgrounds, public…

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Kennewick

Some Restrictions

Kennewick bans smoking and vaping within 20 feet of any playground or tot-lot in a city park, a class 3 infraction…

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Lakewood

Some Restrictions

Lakewood, Washington bans smoking, vaping and any tobacco use inside all city parks under LMC 8.76.168. It is a civil…

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Pasco

Some Restrictions

Pasco bans smoking and tobacco use at Peanuts Park and the Farmers Market, and within 25 feet of any park shelter…

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Seattle

Some Restrictions

Washington's Smoking in Public Places Act (RCW 70.160) bans smoking and vaping inside public places and within 25 feet…

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Snohomish County

Some Restrictions

At Snohomish County Airport (Paine Field), lighting up is banned within 100 feet of aircraft being fueled, fuel trucks…

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Whatcom County

Some Restrictions

Whatcom County bans smoking and vaping in indoor public places and workplaces, and the ban follows people outdoors: WCC…

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Yakima

Some Restrictions

Yakima's Clean Indoor Air Act bans smoking in enclosed public places and workplaces and pushes smokers back 25 feet…

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Public Marijuana Use

CA Health & Safety Code §11362.3 prohibits cannabis use in public, including parks, sidewalks, and inside vehicles; penalties and consumption-lounge exceptions.

Kitsap County

Heavy Restrictions

Kitsap County outlaws bringing, possessing or consuming marijuana and every other drug in a county park, with no…

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Marysville

Heavy Restrictions

Marysville enforces Washington's ban on opening a package of, or consuming, marijuana in view of the general public…

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Pierce County

Heavy Restrictions

Pierce County bans cannabis outright in its entire park system, with no permit exception like the one alcohol gets. PCC…

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Kennewick

Significant Restrictions

Kennewick bans opening a marijuana package or consuming marijuana, useable marijuana, marijuana-infused products or…

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Seattle

Significant Restrictions

SMC 12A.20.100 makes it unlawful to open a package of, or consume, marijuana, useable marijuana, marijuana-infused…

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Thurston County

Significant Restrictions

Thurston County prohibits smoking, vaping, or using marijuana products in any county park, park preserve, or trail…

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Bellevue

Some Restrictions

Bellevue does not punish the marijuana user directly for consuming in a controlled space; instead BCC 10.06.040 makes…

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Bellingham

Some Restrictions

Bellingham bars anyone from opening a marijuana package or consuming marijuana or a marijuana-infused product anywhere…

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Edmonds

Some Restrictions

Edmonds does not write its own public-cannabis-consumption rule; instead it adopts RCW 69.50.445, the state ban on…

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Everett

Some Restrictions

Opening a package of marijuana or consuming it anywhere in view of the general public is a civil infraction in Everett…

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Federal Way

Some Restrictions

Federal Way enforces the state ban on public marijuana use by adopting RCW 69.50.445 by reference in FWRC 6.10.030…

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Kent

Some Restrictions

Opening a cannabis package or consuming cannabis where the general public can see it is unlawful in Kent under RCW…

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Lynnwood

Some Restrictions

Lynnwood makes it unlawful to open a package of marijuana or consume marijuana, useable marijuana or a…

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Sammamish

Some Restrictions

Sammamish doesn't write its own marijuana-use ban for parks; instead SMC 7A.05.060 adopts state law by reference…

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Tacoma

Some Restrictions

Opening a marijuana package or smoking in view of the public is unlawful in Tacoma, which folds the state's…

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Yakima

Some Restrictions

Yakima has no standalone public-marijuana ordinance. Instead, YMC § 6.08.015 adopts a list of Revised Code of…

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Public Alcohol Use

LAMC §41.27 + CA Bus & Prof §25620 prohibit drinking alcohol on public streets, sidewalks, parks, and beaches; penalties and special-event exemptions.

Bellingham

Heavy Restrictions

Bellingham bars opening, possessing an open container of, or consuming liquor in any public place unless the site or…

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Benton County

Heavy Restrictions

Benton County bans alcohol outright in every county park. BCC 7.28.020(b) makes it unlawful to consume or possess any…

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Grant County

Heavy Restrictions

Grant County Code 8.40.030 bans using, possessing or consuming alcohol at any time in the Moses Lake Sand Dunes Area…

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Marysville

Heavy Restrictions

Marysville Municipal Code § 6.58.010 incorporates RCW 66.44.100, the state ban on opening or consuming liquor in a…

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Auburn

Significant Restrictions

Auburn enforces Washington's statewide open-container law by reference: opening a liquor package or drinking alcohol in…

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King County

Significant Restrictions

King County bans open containers and alcohol consumption in all unincorporated county park areas and marine facilities…

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Kirkland

Significant Restrictions

Kirkland makes it unlawful to open or possess an open container of liquor in any place open to the public. KMC…

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Kitsap County

Significant Restrictions

Drinking alcohol in a Kitsap County park is off-limits everywhere except contractually reserved community-center areas…

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Lakewood

Significant Restrictions

Lakewood, Washington prohibits selling, possessing or drinking alcohol anywhere in a City park, recreation area or…

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Pasco

Significant Restrictions

Pasco makes it unlawful to open, possess, display, or consume liquor in any City park or recreation building without a…

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Pierce County

Significant Restrictions

Pierce County bans open alcohol in its park system outright. PCC 14.08.060(M)(2) makes it unlawful to display, possess…

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Renton

Significant Restrictions

Drinking or possessing an open container of alcohol is banned in Renton parks except in areas the Parks and Recreation…

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Sammamish

Significant Restrictions

Alcohol is banned by default across Sammamish parks, trails, and open space. SMC 7A.05.010 makes it unlawful to open…

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Seattle

Significant Restrictions

SMC 12A.24.025 bars opening, possessing an open container of, or consuming liquor in any public place in Seattle…

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Thurston County

Significant Restrictions

Thurston County bans opening or drinking alcohol in county parks except in designated campgrounds, picnic areas, or…

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Yakima County

Significant Restrictions

Opening or drinking alcohol in a Yakima County park, or on Yakima Greenway Foundation property in the unincorporated…

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Everett

Some Restrictions

Everett Municipal Code § 10.42.020 makes it an infraction, fine of $50 plus statutory assessments, to open a package…

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Federal Way

Some Restrictions

Federal Way bans using or possessing alcohol, even an unopened container, in any city park. Organized groups can get…

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Kennewick

Some Restrictions

Kennewick makes it a civil infraction, not a crime, to open a package of liquor or drink it in any public place inside…

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Lynnwood

Some Restrictions

Lynnwood bars anyone from carrying an open or unsealed container of liquor or beer in a public place and separately…

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Port Townsend

Some Restrictions

Port Townsend adopts RCW 66.44.100 by reference, making it a misdemeanor to open or consume liquor in any public place…

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Puyallup

Some Restrictions

Puyallup bans drinking alcohol or carrying an opened container on city streets, public highways, roads or any other…

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Spokane Valley

Some Restrictions

Spokane Valley fines anyone who opens, drinks, or holds an open container of liquor in a public place $50 plus court…

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Tacoma

Some Restrictions

Opening or possessing an opened container of liquor, or drinking it, in any Tacoma public place is a civil infraction…

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Yakima

Some Restrictions

Yakima adopts RCW 66.44.100 by reference, making it unlawful to open a container of liquor or drink alcohol in any…

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