A new ordinance concerning smoking and tobacco use on Sioux Falls city property takes effect today (May 26).

The ordinance prohibits the use of any tobacco products, including electronic smoking devices, on city-owned property when youth activities take place. Youth activities are defined by the ordnance as those which the intended participants and/or the intended attendees are primarily under 18 years-old.

The Sioux Falls City Council unanimously passed the new ordnance on May 2, 2017. Someone that violates the regulations may be asked to leave the City property on which the violation occurs.

“At our City buildings and recreational facilities, we are uniquely positioned to interact with community members, families, and visitors on a daily basis,” Jill Franken, Public Health Director said in a press release. “It is essential that we provide healthy places for them to work, learn, socialize, and play. Every step forward we can take to reduce tobacco use and exposure to second-hand smoke will contribute to better health and a higher quality of life.”

In addition to the youth activities prohibition, smoking is also prohibited in these places:

  • The area within a distance of 25 feet from entrances of all City-owned buildings is smoke-free.
  • Approved special events held on City property are smoke-free unless the event organizer designates a defined smoking area that minimizes public exposure to smoking. The Parks and Recreation Department must review and approve the designated area.
  • City property that is leased or managed by a third party is smoke-free; however, these properties may designate a smoking area that minimizes public exposure to smoking. Examples of these facilities include the Washington Pavilion, Orpheum Theater, Great Bear Recreation Area, Canaries Stadium, and the Sheraton Hotel.
  • The area inside the access road on the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center campus, which includes the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center, Sioux Falls Convention Center and Sioux Falls Arena, is smoke-free. The access road connects Bailey Street to Western Avenue and Russell Street to Western Avenue.
  • City golf courses are smoke-free except for parking lots and during the course of play. The course of play is defined as after the first tee, and before the green of the final hole of an

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