New smoking rules will take effect within the City of Encinitas on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, banning smoking and vaping in public places. This new law follows in the footsteps of many other Southern California communities, including Santa Barbara, Beverly Hills and Manhattan Beach. The goal of the new rule is to reduce waste, protect the environment and limit secondhand smoke exposure.
About the new rule
- Smoking and Vaping is NOT Allowed:
- In public places
- Places of employment, including restaurants and businesses
- Any area within 20 feet of a public place, except private residential property
- Smoking and Vaping is Allowed:
- On private property that is not considered a public place
- Private residential property Within a motor vehicle that is actively being driven
- In up to 20% of rooms at a hotel or motel (at the discretion of the hotel/motel owner or operator)
All cigarette butts and vaping cartridges must be disposed of in receptacles designated for smoking waste.
About enforcement
The City and San Diego Sheriff’s Department will begin enforcement of the new law on Tuesday, July 11, 2023. Businesses and residents found violating the new smoking rules may be issued a citation that can range from $50 to $1,000 depending on the nature of the violation.
How businesses can comply with the new law
- Eliminate all smoking areas on business property
- Ensure 80% of hotel/motel rooms are smoke-free
- Educate your employees
- Post signage in your business to educate patrons
All businesses will receive a letter in the mail with more details on how to comply with the ordinance and a decal to post in their store window.
Why this new law is important
The potential environmental impact of this ordinance is vast. Cigarette filters are the number one waste item found at beach cleans ups in San Diego County and tobacco waste is one of the main sources of marine plastic pollution worldwide. By implementing these changes, the City of Encinitas aims to eliminate this waste and further contribute to the beautification of the city.
In addition to the positive environmental effects this ordinance can create, it will also help alleviate the negative effects of secondhand smoking. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found the effects of secondhand smoke are a health risk to the public and therefore they have classified it as a “group A carcinogen”, the most dangerous class of toxin. The City of Encinitas is concerned about these potential impacts and hopes this law will help protect public health.
Need more information?
For more information on the ordinance, go to
https://www.encinitasca.gov/smoking or contact Crystal Najera, Sustainability Manager, at 760-943-2285 or email
cnajera@encinitasca.gov.
