Where There’s (No) Smoke . . .

Despite increasing evidence that secondhand smoke is harmful, less than half of the cities in Orange County have adopted restrictions on smoking in restaurants, the workplace, and other public facilities. Here’s a list of city restrictions on specific places as well as those adopted by the county. Many of the cities listed below also have policies restricting smoking in hospitals and health care facilities, public restrooms, auditoriums, theaters, indoor service lines, public meeting rooms and elevators. The penalties for violation are also detailed. Any business can adopt stricter non-smoking rules.

COUNTY** Restaurants ***: At least 20% nonsmoking Offices/businesses: Mandatory nonsmoking work areas; at least 50% of the cafeteria non-smoking Government-owned buildings*: No more than 10% designated smoking Penalties for violation(s)****: $100 per day per violation ANAHEIM Restaurants ***: “Adequate” amount for nonsmokers Offices/businesses: At least 50% of the cafeteria nonsmoking Government-owned buildings*: no smoking in city council chambers Penalties for violation(s)****: 1st--$50; 2nd--$150; 3rd--$500 BREA Restaurants ***: At least 50% nonsmoking Offices/businesses: Mandatory nonsmoking work areas; at least 50% of the cafeteria non-smoking Government-owned buildings*: no policy Penalties for violation(s)****: 1st--$100; 2nd--$200; 3rd--$500 CYPRESS Restaurants ***: At least 25% nonsmoking Offices/businesses: At least 50% of total work space designated nonsmoking Government-owned buildings*: no policy Penalties for violation(s)****: 1st--$100; 2nd--$200; 3rd--$500 HUNTINGTON BEACH Restaurants ***: At least 25% nonsmoking Offices/businesses: mandatory nonsmoking work areas Government-owned buildings*: No smoking in city meeting rooms Penalties for violation(s)****: 1st--$50; 2nd--$100; 3rd--$250 IRVINE Restaurants ***: At least 40% nonsmoking Offices/businesses: mandatory nonsmoking work areas Government-owned buildings*: No policy Penalties for violation(s)****: Determined by courts LAGUNA BEACH Restaurants ***: At least 60% nonsmoking Offices/businesses: mandatory nonsmoking work areas Government-owned buildings*: No smoking in City Hall and in libraries Penalties for violation(s)****: Determined by courts NEWPORT BEACH Restaurants ***: At least 25% nonsmoking Offices/businesses: mandatory nonsmoking work areas Government-owned buildings*: No policy Penalties for violation(s)****: not specified SAN CLEMENTE Restaurants ***: At least 50% nonsmoking Offices/businesses: mandatory nonsmoking work areas Government-owned buildings*: No policy Penalties for violation(s)****: $50 TUSTIN Restaurants ***: no policy Offices/businesses: mandatory nonsmoking work areas Government-owned buildings*: No policy Penalties for violation(s)****: 1st--$50; 2nd--$100 YORBA LINDA Restaurants ***: At least 33% nonsmoking Offices/businesses: mandatory nonsmoking work areas Government-owned buildings*: No smoking in any city-owned building Penalties for violation(s)****: determined by courts * The cities of San Juan Capistrano and Stanton have adopted polices that restrict smoking in city-owned buildings only.

** Applies to the unincorporated areas as well as the cities of Dana Point, Laguna Niguel and Mission Viejo, which all have adopted the county ordinance.

*** Restaurants with capacities for 50 or less are exempt from the policy, Anaheim, Huntington Beach and Newport Beach; those with a 40-or-less capacity are exempt from the policy in Irvine and Yorba Linda.

**** Penalties for second and third violations are only if they occur in the same year as the first violation.

Source: Individual cities Researched by: KATHIE BOZANICH / Los Angeles Times