St. Paul, Minn. Passes Smoking Ban Ordinance

On Wednesday, the St. Paul City Council passed an ordinance banning smoking in a number of public areas, including near buildings and in public parks.

The ban creates smoke-free zones within 25 feet of the entrances, exits, windows and ventilation intakes of businesses and applies to tobacco products, marijuana and electronic smoking devices. It does not prohibit smoking on sidewalks and city streets, and the ordinance includes an exemption for existing designated area in parks that are clearly marked, as well as for religious or cultural ceremonies. It also allows smoking in areas that are not immediately next to a building entrance and which the owner or proprietor of a public or private building has determined to be a designated smoking area and clearly marked with a sign.

After passing by a 4-3 vote, the ordinance will go into effect in 30 days. Violators of the ban will be asked to voluntarily comply with the ban; if they refuse, an administrative citation may be issued.

The original version of the ordinance proposed a ban on smoking in any city-owned space and would have made violators subject to a petty misdemeanor, though both were modified during the legislative process.

St. Paul is the capital of Minnesota and home to approximately 311,000 residents.