Smoke-Free Environments and Cigarette Butt Recycling

Effective April 27, 2018, the city of Los Altos prohibits smoking in many public places, increasing the city’s number of smoke-free environments. 

The new prohibitions prevent smoking in nearly all enclosed public places and many unenclosed public places. Public places are areas, publicly or privately owned, that are accessible by the public, whether by payment of money or not and regardless of any age requirement.

Smoking is prohibited within twenty-five feet (25’) of all publicly accessible buildings as well as unenclosed areas such as parks, service areas, outdoor dining areas, at entryways and exits, and at public events. Smoking is also prohibited in Downtown except for areas in the ten (10) public parking plazas, provided those areas are twenty-five feet (25’) or more from any building entry or window. Smoking is not allowed anywhere on the Civic Center Campus or on the grounds of any City-owned buildings.

The Ordinance includes all types of smoking products, including tobacco, e-cigarettes, vaporizers and cannabis.

The City has partnered with Breathe California of the Bay Area to provide public outreach and education to community members as the primary means of enforcement. Breathe California operates a Secondhand Smoke Helpline that is available to individuals wishing to learn more about the ordinance or secondhand smoke, and also to report a violation. 

To report a violation, call (408) 999-0500.

Business owners may request informative window decals or tabletop placards by calling (408) 998-5865.

Enforcement

This ordinance is designed to be self-enforcing to obtain voluntary compliance through visible signage and community outreach materials. However, police personnel, as well as any fire safety or code enforcement officers, will be asked to: maintain an awareness of the City's smoking regulations; warn and educate members of the public of the smoking prohibitions; and enforce as needed.

Violations of the ordinance are infractions of the City's Municipal Code. A written and verbal warning will be issued for the first offense and subsequent violations may incur fines up to $200.

View the Ordinance