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SUSTAINABILITY - ACTION ITEM: (1) Discussion of Restrictions on Outdoor Smoking, Including Enforcement Strategies, Smoking Zones, and Multi-Family Housing; (2) Guidance to Staff; and (3) Recommendations to City Council.
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Meeting Date: June 23, 2026
Contact Person/Dept: Sean Singletary, Public Works Department - EPO Division
Phone Number: (310) 253-6457
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [ ] General Fund: Yes [X] No [ ]
Attachments: Yes [ ] No [X]
Public Notification: Email via GovDelivery (06/18/2026): Meetings and Agendas - Sustainability Subcommittee, Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Commission; Stay Informed - Community Gardening, Sustainability and Environmental Issues, Urban Forest Management, Environmental Programs and Events
Dept Approval: Yanni Demitri, Director of Public Works/City Engineer
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BACKGROUND
At the October 13, 2025 meeting, the City Council discussed citywide smoking restrictions. The Council unanimously voted to support restricting outdoor smoking to specific zones with appropriate receptacles to mitigate litter.
The City Council requested additional information about where these smoking zones would be located and how the regulation would be enforced. Additional concern was raised as to where residents of multi-family housing would be able to smoke due to existing ordinances prohibiting smoking in multi-family housing.
Regulation development was sent to the Sustainability Subcommittee. The Subcommittee was tasked to discuss multi-family housing, enforcement options, and identify outdoor smoking zones and make recommendations for consideration at a future City Council meeting.
Smoking is currently not permitted in the following areas:
• The following areas of multi-family housing, including rental complexes and common interest complexes:
o Individual units.
o Common areas, except in an established designated smoking area. (designated smoking areas must meet certain requirements, including being at least 25 feet from unenclosed areas primarily used by children and unenclosed areas with improvements that facilitate physical activity, such as playgrounds, tennis courts, swimming pools, etc.
o Unenclosed areas, including balconies, porches, decks and patios, within 25 feet in any direction of any doorway, window, opening, or other vent into an enclosed area that is a nonsmoking area.
o Unenclosed areas of adjacent property within 25 feet in any in any direction of any doorway, window, opening, or other vent into an enclosed area that is a nonsmoking area.
o Exclusive-use areas of a unit, such as a balcony, porch, deck or patio.
• Outdoor Dining Areas on public or private property, including the public right-of-way and all non-enclosed areas within five feet of an Outdoor Dining Area, except while actively passing on the way to another destination.
• City parks or recreational areas, except for designated smoking areas, which may be established in the City Hall Courtyard at the City’s discretion. A park or recreational area includes any paved public sidewalk immediately abutting the boundary of the park or recreational area or any parking area within the boundaries of the Park or Recreational Area.
• Other areas prohibited by federal law (which bans smoking on federal property) and state law (such as 20 feet within public entrances, in cars with children present, indoor workplaces)
*Smoking includes use of electronic smoking devices (i.e., e-cigarettes).
DISCUSSION
Staff requests guidance regarding resolving multi-family housing smoking restrictions and identifying locations for smoking zones.
There are two recommended enforcement strategies.
1. Civilian-Led Enforcement: Civilians can cite each other, including taking the infracting party to small claims court. This method would require no staff time or City funds to implement.
2. Complaint-Led Enforcement: Community members can submit a witnessed violation of a regulation and the Code Enforcement Officers may respond by going to the individual or business. The inspector would explain the regulation. Multiple infractions would receive a citation. Depending on the volume of complaints, this strategy could require additional resources in Code Enforcement.
Existing smoking regulation enforcement is identified in Culver City Municipal Code 9.11.255, which identifies Code Enforcement or private civil action as enforcement mechanisms. In addition to any enforcement strategy, the Environmental Programs and Operations (EPO) Division would provide proactive educational outreach through social media and the website, as well as at in-person events.
For the location of Smoking Zones, the City defines 15 neighborhoods in the City:
1. Blair Hills
2. Blanco/Culver Crest
3. Clarkdale
4. Culver/West
5. Downtown
6. Fox Hills
7. Jefferson
8. Lucerne/Higuera
9. McLaughlin
10. McManus
11. Park East
12. Park West
13. Studio Village
14. Sunkist Park
15. Washington Culver
Staff will work with the City Attorney and Planning & Development Department on identifying a location or zone within each neighborhood that would provide a smoking location outdoors with a City-serviced receptacle, and bring proposals back to the Subcommittee.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
The fiscal impact to the City would depend on the location and number of smoking zones and the chosen enforcement strategy.
ATTACHMENTS
None.