General
Tonya Gorham Gallow, MSW
Program Director

Ronette Anderson
Secretary

Main Office
Phone: 213-351-7890
FAX: 213-351-2710
Email: tobacco1@ph.lacounty.gov
3530 Wilshire Blvd. 8th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90010-2313
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Smoking Complaints
Please call 213-351-7890.

NOTE: TCPP can only address smoking violations in Los Angeles County. If the violation occurred outside of Los Angeles County you can browse our links page or contact your local health department for more information.

On March 19th of this year, the County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed amendments to strengthen the County’s policies on smoke-free environments and to close loopholes where smoking is permitted.

The approved changes to the Ordinance include:

Updates to the definition of “smoke” and “smoking” to include Electronic Smoking Devices (ESDs) and cannabis.
Ban on smoking in the following outdoor areas -

• County facilities, both county-owned and leased facilities (This provision does not apply to county-owned facilities leased from the county until the lease expires and/or terminates)
• Within 50 ft of any operable entry, exit or operable window of County buildings
• Within 25 ft of any handicap ramp or handicap entrance path of any county building
• Parking areas of County beaches and parks
• County vehicles
• At any parking lot, parking structure, or parking garage of County buildings
• Within any driving range and eating areas of any County golf course

Ban on smoking in following areas of Unincorporated Los Angeles County -

• Within 25 ft of outdoor dining areas of dining establishments and bars which offers food to the public
• Within 40 ft of any mobile food or temporary food facility, including food trucks and carts
• At bus stops

According to the 2015 Los Angeles County Health Survey, 53% of adults were exposed to secondhand smoke in outdoor areas and 70% of County residents were in favor of a law prohibiting smoking in outdoor dining areas. In Los Angeles County, over 70 cities have adopted smoke-free parks/recreational area policies, 27 cities have adopted smoke-free outdoor dining policies – 17 of which included ESDs and cannabis in their definition of smoking, and 16 cities have passed comprehensive smoke-free policies that cover outdoor dining areas, public events, service lines, parks and recreational areas, and other public areas.

Prior to the adoption of the Ordinance, TCPP, in partnership with the County’s Department of Consumer and Business Affairs, hosted a webinar and conducted six in-person informational sessions throughout the County to provide information and to allow opportunities for the public and stakeholders to provide feedback on the proposed Ordinance changes pertaining to smoke-free outdoor dining.

TCPP is currently working with various County Departments (i.e. Health Services, Public Works, Beaches and Harbor, and Parks and Recreation) to update existing signage and or post new signage (i.e. at bus stops) and provide education and cessation resources to County staff who may be impacted by these changes. Additionally, TCPP is developing signage for dining establishments and mobile food vendors affected by the Ordinance.

To see a copy of the Ordinance, click here. For additional information, please email tobacco1@ph.lacounty.gov or call (213) 351-7890.

Cigarette Tax Increases $2 on April 1

In light of the new tobacco tax going into effect this week, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) reminds Californians that resources are available to help them kick the habit.

On April 1, the tax on a pack of cigarettes will increase $2, from $0.87 to $2.87. This increase is a result of Proposition 56, the California Healthcare, Research and Prevention Tobacco Tax Act, which was approved by voters last November.

Californians who want help to quit smoking can call the California Smokers’ Helpline at 1-800-NO BUTTS. The helpline provides smokers free telephone counseling and plans to help them quit. The Helpline is staffed with trained counselors who are fluent in English, Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean and Vietnamese. Additional resources and materials are available at www.nobutts.org.

“We know most smokers want to quit, and paying more for their habit could be the extra motivation they need to make an important life-saving step,” said CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith. “Quitting smoking helps protect your physical and financial health. A smoker who quits today could save nearly $1,500 in just one year.”

Smoking remains the number one cause of preventable death and disease in California. About 3.1 million, or one out of nine, California adults smoke, and an estimated 34,000 Californians die from smoking-related diseases each year.

The state’s new tax increase also impacts tobacco products like electronic cigarettes and e-liquids, which are taxed based on their wholesale cost.

Proposition 56 funds tobacco-use prevention programs, the new state Oral Health Program and research on tobacco-related illnesses such as cancer and heart disease. It also strengthens the Medi-Cal health care system and provides additional resources for CDPH to enforce underage tobacco-sales laws.

Click here for more information from CDPH.

OFFICE OF MARIJUANA MANAGEMENT

Los Angeles County established the Office of Marijuana Management (OMM) in response to Proposition 64, the Adult Use of Marijuana Act. The OMM serves as a countywide coordinating body, working closely with the Board of Supervisors and County departments to implement the County’s marijuana policies and priorities. The OMM's website includes facts sheets, reports and other resources. Click here for more information.

SUBSTANCE ABUSE and PREVENTION CONTROL PROGRAM

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Substance Abuse and Prevention Control Program has added a webpage dedicated to the Responsible Use Adult Use of Marijuana Act and the Department's role in marijuana regulation. Click here for more information.

The California Tobacco Control Program created an infographic which summarizes California laws that prohibit or restrict smoking within indoor and outdoor spaces. The infographic reflects changes to state law effective June 9, 2016, and lists specific places smoking is not allowed, and exemptions. For a copy of the infographic click here.

On June 9, 2016 a California law went into effect raising the minimum age for sale of tobacco products and tobacco paraphernalia from 18 to 21, except for active duty military personnel in the U.S. Armed Forces who will continue to be allowed to purchase tobacco at the age of 18 or older.

In addition, electronic smoking devices are included in the definition of tobacco products. This means products such as e-cigarettes, e-hookah, vape pens, vaping devices, mods, e-liquids, hookah, cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos/little cigars, chewing tobacco, snus, and pipe tobacco are covered by the law.

The California Tobacco Control Program has further resources pertaining to the new law for tobacco retailers and the public that can be found here.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors adopted the Tobacco Retail License ordinance on December 18, 2007 to encourage responsible tobacco retailing and to discourage violations of federal, state and local tobacco-related laws, especially those that prohibit the sale or distribution of tobacco products to minors in the unincorporated areas of the County. The license fee will fund education, enforcement and administration of the County's tobacco retail license program.

Pursuant to Title 11 (Health and Safety) of the Los Angeles County Code Chapter 11.35 (Tobacco Retailing), any person intending to act as a tobacco retailer in the unincorporated areas of the County shall, effective April 16, 2008, pay a fee to obtain a tobacco retail license for each location at which tobacco retailing is to occur.

For Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) click here.

To download Los Angeles County Tobacco Retail License application documents and supplemental materials click here.

Additional information? Call the Tobacco Retail License hotline at 213-351-7323

The mission of the Coalition for a Tobacco Free LA County is to empower and mobilize communities to reduce tobacco-related death and disease throughout the County. The goals of the Coalition are to advocate for progressive tobacco control issues, policies, and actions within Los Angeles County; to mobilize the talents and resources of individuals, groups, and agencies to create a critical mass for promoting tobacco control efforts and strategies; to demonstrate widespread public support for tobacco control issues and actions, and address unmet needs; to collaborate with, advise and support the Tobacco Control and Prevention Program and to assist on high priority issues/projects; and to act as a spokesgroup regarding tobacco control issues within the community.

All residents and organizations within Los Angeles County and its surrounding areas that share the Coalition's mission and goals are invited to attend and contribute.

Questions? click here.