North Port Smoke free ordinance takes effect March 1

City of North Port

Effective March 1, 2024, Ordinance 2023-33(PDF, 2MB) goes into effect. The ordinance was adopted by the City Commission this past November and prohibits smoking in city parks. This includes cigarettes, e-cigarettes, vapes, filtered cigars, pipes and other devices that can be used to inhale, exhale, burn or carry tobacco products.  Per Florida state statute, unfiltered cigars are exempt from regulation within this ordinance.

The following parks will have a designated smoking area which will be identified with signage and waste receptacles in the parking lot:

• Atwater Community Park
• Blue Ridge Park
• Butler Park
• Canine Club
• City Center Complex
• Dallas White Park
• Garden of the Five Senses
• Highland Ridge Park
• LaBrea Park
• Marina Park
• McKibben Park
• Narramore Sports Complex
• Pine Park

There will be no designated smoking areas for the City’s natural parks. This includes Warm Mineral Springs Park, Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park and Oaks Park.

Benefits

According to the National Recreation and Park Association, the benefits of tobacco prohibition include:

• Healthier recreational environments that promote physical activity, encourage personal development, and minimize exposure to tobacco use and secondhand smoke.
• Less tobacco use and initiation among child and adult visitors at park and recreation facilities.
• More public awareness about the dangers of tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure.
• Better health equity and fewer health disparities among visitors to park and recreation facilities.
• Cleaner parks that contribute to a high-quality recreation experience because they are free of tobacco, secondhand smoke and cigarette butts.
• Fewer carcinogens, toxic metals and poisonous gases from secondhand smoke and tobacco products that impact human health, worsen air quality and impair physical activity necessary to fully enjoy park and recreation facilities.
• Fresher air, smoke-free facilities and better respiratory health for all visitors to park and recreation facilities.

Contact

If you have questions or would like more information, contact North Port Parks & Recreation at 941-429-PARK(7275) or email [email protected].