Carlsbad will begin to enforce a new law Wednesday that prohibits smoking in and around residential buildings with three or more units.
The ban includes e-cigarettes and cannabis and governs all areas of apartment or condo buildings of that size, along with townhomes, except for designated outdoor spaces.
The City Council approved the law on Aug. 20, making Carlsbad the first city in San Diego County to attempt to protect non-smokers and properties from the dangers of smoking.
Robert Park, government relations director for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network in Southern California, said that secondhand smoke travels through cracks in walls, light fixtures, wall electric outlets, plumbing, doorways and ventilation systems.
“Everyone has the right to breathe clean, smoke-free air,” Park said in a news release. “We applaud the Carlsbad City Council for protecting residents who live in most multi-unit homes from exposure to secondhand smoke, which, even outdoors, can pose serious health risks.
