Beverly Hills City Council To Discuss No-Smoking Ordinance

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – Beverly Hills City Council is scheduled, on Sept. 19, to discuss a proposed ordinance to prohibit smoking in multi-unit residences. This has been recommended by the Health and Safety Commission. In Aug. 2016, the City Council asked the Health and Safety Commission to develop a policy that would restrict smoking in multi-family residences, the press release said.

The proposed regulations and ordinance have been developed over the past year at Health and Safety Commission meetings where public comment was heard; the Commission also solicited public input at two special meetings in Nov. and Dec. of last year.

The Commission has recommended City Council adopt an ordinance that would prohibit smoking effective January 1, 2018 in all common indoor and outdoor areas such as hallways, pathways, lobbies, community rooms and laundry facilities, the statement said. The regulations would apply to all multi-unit residences such as apartments and condominiums.

In addition, City Council will consider a proposed two-year implementation timeline where smoking would be prohibited within dwellings of both renter-occupied and owner-occupied units, including any associated exclusive-use area such as balconies, porches, decks and patios, the press release said.

The timeline is as follows:

• Starting January 1, 2018: Smoking would be prohibited within all units, including associated exclusive use areas, with a new or renewed lease.
• Starting January 1, 2019: Smoking would additionally be prohibited within apartment units, including associated exclusive use areas, regardless of the start or renewal date of a lease.
• Starting January 1, 2020: Smoking would additionally be prohibited within all condominium units and associated exclusive use areas, inclusive of all owner-occupied units and regardless of the start date of a renter’s lease.

The meeting will take place at the City Council Study Session, 1:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber.

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