Smoking Will Be Prohibited In Most Pleasanton Apartments, On Balconies

PLEASANTON, CA — Two years after banning smoking on public parks and trails, the Pleasanton City Council this week unanimously voted to expand the ban to include smoking, including include e-cigarettes and marijuana, inside apartments, on balconies, patios and common areas of multifamily apartments.

“By expanding the scope of smoking restrictions to include smoking restrictions in multifamily rental apartments based on concerns over secondhand smoke exposure, the Council is among a growing list of local governments seeking to improve overall public health by restricting smoking in both public and private places,” city officials said in a statement. “In an effort to provide some accommodation for smokers, the ordinance, as introduced, allows for apartment owners to establish an outdoor smoking area at least 25 feet away from non-smoking areas.”

Smoking in the downtown Pleasanton is also currently prohibited. When the council adopts the new ordinance, they will join the ranks of about 90 other cities and counties in California with smoke-free housing policies.

Those who violate the ordinance could be fined between $100 to $500, depending on the number and frequency of violations. Once adopted, city officials said the new smoking restrictions will likely take effect sometime in early 2018. Officials said landlords will be responsible for informing residents of the ordinance.

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