Laguna Beach Considers Citywide Smoking Ban

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — For many residents, living near the beach is considered to be one of the healthiest lifestyles. It's a place where locals get out, do yoga, run, walk or hike. However, in the city of Laguna Beach, sidewalks are often shrouded in the haze of second-hand smoke.

On May 9, the Laguna Beach City Council will decide whether to expand the ban on smoking to even more types of smoking devices, as well as the location where locals and visitors can light up.

According to a report from CBSLA, locals are complaining about second-hand smoke, and if the ban is granted, it will be the most restrictive in all of Orange County. According to the city, current smoking bans in Laguna Beach include beaches, parks, restaurants and public restrooms.

An ordinance, originally proposed in January, will be introduced at the May 9 council meeting to expand the city's current smoking prohibitions, according to the Laguna Beach City Council agenda.

The amendment states that the regulation and prohibition of smoking will include all public places, including common areas of multi-unit residences.

INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 7.40 OF THE LAGUNA BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO THE REGULATION AND PROHIBITION OF SMOKING Proposed ordinance to expand the City’s current smoking prohibitions.

Recommendations: Introduce the Ordinance entitled “AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING CHAPTER 7.40 OF THE LAGUNA BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO THE REGULATION AND PROHIBITION OF SMOKING” prohibiting smoking in all public places as well as common areas of multi-unit residence by (1) asking the City Clerk to read the title of the Ordinance, and (2) approving a motion to waive further reading of the Ordinance and pass it to a second reading.

That means, under the proposed ordinance, smoking will not be allowed on streets, parking lots, in alleys, on sidewalks or in common areas like pools, patios in apartments and condominium complexes.

This would summarily ban all kinds of smoking — including all tobacco and marijuana products, including cigars, cigarettes, e-cigarettes (vaping) and marijuana smoke — from air in public spaces.

But how will the Laguna Beach Smoking Ban be enforced?

If passed, the ordinance would be made known to residents and visitors through appropriate signage, and the community of Laguna Beach would begin to identify itself as "smoke-free."

"The intent is to have enough visible signage and community outreach materials in place for the public to become aware of the City's smoking regulation and to obtain voluntary compliance," the ordinance states.

Violations of the ordinance would be enforced by a punishable misdemeanor, with a fine of $100 for first violation, a $200 second violation within a one-year period and a $500 third violation within a one-year period.

According to the ordinance, other communities in similar beach locales have put in place similar stances on second-hand smoke including Manhattan Beach, Calabasas, Hermosa Beach and Beverly Hills.

"Each has had successful results with their strict smoking ordinances, mainly due to extensive public outreach, education, and signage," the city said.

The Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce and Visit Laguna Beach have already started a preliminary outreach program.

"The city staff and the City Attorney have worked closely to draft the ordinance for the city council's consideration," Administrative Analyst Ryan Hallett wrote in his recommendation.

If the ordinance passes City Council on May 9, the Laguna Beach Smoking Ban ordinance would move on to a second reading that would include further public outreach for the new smoking prohibitions. It was suggested that such a public outreach signage campaign would cost an estimated $10,000 based upon similar strategies at cities farther north.

City of Laguna Beach, Screenshot of Amendment