Note: Prior ordinance history: Ords. 1074, 1101, 1141, 1195, 1240, 1444, 1473, 1504, 1513, 1523, 1553 and 1586.
This chapter recognizes the right of residents and visitors to the city to be free from unwelcome secondhand smoke, which is deemed to be a public nuisance. The purpose of this chapter is to promote and protect the public health, safety, and general welfare by prohibiting smoking in public places, which include common areas of multi-unit housing, in hazardous fire areas, and in city facilities and on city property where persons will be exposed to unwelcome secondhand smoke and also the risks and dangers associated with fires. This chapter is further intended to ensure a cleaner and more hygienic environment for the city, its residents and visitors, and its natural resources.
(Ord. 1624 § 1, 2017)
The following words and phrases, whenever used in this chapter, shall be construed as defined in this section:
"Electronic smoking device"
means an electronic device that can be used to deliver an inhaled dose of nicotine, or other substances, including any component, part, or accessory of such device, whether or not sold separately. This definition includes any such device, whether manufactured, distributed, marketed, or sold as an electronic cigarette, an electronic cigar, an electronic cigarillo, an electronic pipe, an electronic hookah, or any other product name or descriptor, including any component, part or accessory of such device, whether or not sold separately.
"Employer"
means any person who employs the services of an individual person.
"Employee"
means any person who is employed by an employer for direct or indirect monetary wages or profit.
"Enclosed"
means closed in by a roof and four walls with appropriate openings for ingress and egress.
"Multi-unit residence"
means residential property that contains two or more units rented or available to be rented and not occupied by a landlord of the premises. "Multi-unit residence" does not include a condominium, a mobilehome park, a hotel, a motel, or a bed and breakfast establishment.
"Multi-unit residence common area"
means any common area of a multi-unit residence accessible to and usable by the occupants for more than one dwelling, including, but not limited to, halls, lobbies, laundry rooms, outdoor eating areas, play areas, and swimming pools.
"Place of employment"
means any area under the legal or de facto control of an employer that an employee or the general public may enter in the normal course of operations, but regardless of the hours of operation, including, for example, indoor and outdoor work areas, construction sites, taxis, employee lounges, conference and banquet rooms, bingo and gaming facilities, long-term health facilities, warehouses, and any private residences subject to state licensing requirements that are used as child-care or health-care facilities.
"Public place"
means any indoor or outdoor public place publicly or privately owned, including but not limited to any public buildings, restaurants, dining areas, bars, entryways, elevators, hospitals and health care facilities, public meeting rooms, theaters and auditoriums, public restrooms, service lines, streets, alleys, rights-of-way, sidewalks, plazas, beaches and beach access ways, public transportation and bus shelters, parking lots, parking structures, parks, picnic areas, playgrounds, sports fields, walking paths, hiking trails, bike paths, and hazardous fire areas. "Public place" includes any place being used for a public event, including, but not limited to, a farmers market, parade, craft fair, festival, or any other event open to the general public.
"Smoke"
means the gases, particles, or vapors released into the air as a result of combustion, electrical ignition or vaporization, when the apparent or usual purpose of the combustion, electrical ignition or vaporization is human inhalation of the byproducts, except when the combusting material contains no tobacco or nicotine and the purpose of inhalation is solely olfactory, such as, for example, smoke from incense. "Smoke" includes, but is not limited to, tobacco smoke, electronic cigarette vapors, and marijuana smoke.
"Smoking"
means the release of gases, particles, or vapors into the air as the result of combustion, electrical ignition, or vaporization and/or inhaling, exhaling, burning or carrying any lighted, heated or ignited cigar, cigarette, cigarillo, pipe, hookah, electronic smoking device, or any plant product, including, but not limited to, tobacco and marijuana, intended for human inhalation.
(Ord. 1624 § 1, 2017)
(a) 
In addition to all places where smoking is prohibited under state or federal law, in which case those laws apply, no person shall smoke in, and smoking areas shall not be established or designated in, all of the following areas:
(1) 
Multi-unit residence common areas;
(2) 
Places of employment; and
(3) 
Public places.
(b) 
Smoking is permitted in the following locations within the city, unless otherwise provided by state or federal law or this code:
(1) 
Private residential properties, other than those used as a child-care or health-care facility subject to State licensing requirements; and
(2) 
Within a moving or stationary vehicle, including a vehicle on a public street or right-of-way or parked in a public place.
(c) 
No employer, owner, operator, manager, employee or other person having control of a place of employment or a public place shall knowingly permit smoking in an area in which smoking is prohibited by law. This subsection does not require the physical ejection of any person from the business or the taking of steps to prevent smoking under circumstances that would involve a significant risk of physical harm.
(d) 
The owner, operator or manager of a hotel, motel or bed and breakfast establishment may establish rules permitting or prohibiting smoking on the portions of the property not open to the public, including guest rooms, pools, and similar facilities and areas, provided that such rules comply with applicable laws.
(e) 
No employer, owner, operator, manager, employee or other person having control of an outdoor dining area, restaurant, snack shop or alcohol beverage establishment shall place ashtrays on tables or otherwise make ashtrays or receptacles for smoking waste available to patrons.
(f) 
Nothing in this chapter prohibits any person or employer with legal control over any property from prohibiting smoking on any part of such property, even if smoking is not otherwise prohibited in that area.
(Ord. 1624 § 1, 2017)
Smoking is prohibited in all enclosed areas, including buildings, as well as on all outdoor property within the city owned, leased, or operated by other governmental bodies, including the state of California, the county of Orange, and special districts, when such other governmental body has consented in writing to the city enforcing the provisions of this section on such property.
(Ord. 1624 § 1, 2017)
Except where other signs are required, whenever in this code smoking is prohibited, "No Smoking" or "Smoke Free" signs shall be conspicuously posted by the owner, operator, manager, or other persons having control of such room, building, or other place where smoking is prohibited. The city manager shall post signs at or near the primary entrance(s) to a public place in which smoking is prohibited and which is owned or controlled by the city. Signage required by this section shall not be subject to Chapter 25.54. Notwithstanding this provision, the presence or absence of signs shall not be a defense to the violation of any other provisions of this chapter.
(Ord. 1624 § 1, 2017)
(a) 
The provisions of this chapter may be enforced by the Laguna Beach police department, any peace officer or fire or code enforcement officer, the Laguna Beach marine safety department, or other employees designated by the city manager.
(b) 
While an establishment is undergoing otherwise mandatory inspections, fire and code enforcement officers may inspect the establishment for compliance with this chapter.
(c) 
Notice of the provisions of this chapter shall be provided to all applicants for a business license or renewal thereof; provided, however, any failure to provide such notice shall be no defense to a violation of this chapter.
(d) 
Employers, owners, operators, managers or employees of same shall be required to orally inform persons violating this chapter of the provisions hereof. The duty to inform such violator shall arise when such employer, owner, operator, manager or employee of the same becomes aware of such violation.
(e) 
Causing, permitting, aiding, abetting, or concealing a violation of any provision of this chapter shall also constitute a violation of this chapter.
(f) 
Except as provided in subsection (g), any person who is found to violate any provision of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of an infraction and shall be punishable by:
(1) 
A fine not exceeding one hundred dollars for the first violation;
(2) 
A fine not exceeding two hundred dollars for a second violation within one year; and
(3) 
A fine not exceeding five hundred dollars for a third violation within one year.
(g) 
Any person who is found to violate the prohibition of smoking in a hazardous fire area pursuant to Section 7.40.040 shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punishable as provided by state law.
(h) 
Any aggrieved person may enforce the provisions of this chapter by means of a civil action on his or her own behalf pursuant to California Civil Code Section 3501 et seq.
(Ord. 1624 § 1, 2017)
This chapter shall not be interpreted or construed to permit smoking where it is otherwise restricted or prohibited by other applicable laws.
(Ord. 1624 § 1, 2017)