At its January 10, 2017 meeting, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors passed the Ventura County Comprehensive Smoke-Free Ordinance

The ordinance prohibits smoking in the unincorporated areas of the county and at nearly all County-owned and operated buildings, campuses and properties.

In addition to the ban at County properties, the ordinance prohibits smoking in dining areas, entryways, recreation areas (except golf courses), service areas, public events and outdoor worksites.

The definition of smoking includes tobacco products, e-cigarettes and marijuana.

The Board passed the item on a 4-1 vote with Supervisor Parks casting the dissenting vote. The reason she did not vote for the ordinance is for two reasons. The ordinance allows for an exception on golf courses; and the ordinance negatively impacts psychiatric patients addicted to nicotine that are confined to a inpatient psychiatric unit.

The ordinance will become operative 180 days after its effective date.

I always am amused by the specific signage requirements for ordinances.

Section 6711 of the Ordinance specifies the posting of signs by those that have control of an area in which smoking or use of tobacco products is prohibited. The sign should indicate "No Smoking and No Vaping" or "Smoke-Free" at each entry point to the area and at least one other conspicuous sign within the area. 

"The signs will have letters of no less than one inch in height and shall include the international "No Smoking and No Vaping" symbol (consisting of a pictorial representation of a burning cigarette, marijuana leaf and e-cigarette enclosed in a red circle with a red bar across it."

The penalties for violations of this ordinance are as follows: Infraction for first offense; $50 fine for second offense within one year; $100 for third violation within one year; $200 for fourth or subsequent violation within one year. In other words, you are given one free violation per year.

Ordinance at THIS LINK.