The City of Torrance will be hosting a series of virtual workshops to provide information to the community on a proposed ordinance to prohibit smoking in and around multi-unit residences. No reservation is necessary. To review a copy of the proposed ordinance or find out more information, please contact Leslie Cortez, Senior Administrative Analyst, at (310) 618-5990 or LCortez@TorranceCA.Gov.
Virtual Workshop Dates:
As background, the City’s Environmental Quality and Energy Conservation Commission (TEQECC) has recently been reviewing and discussing an ordinance to prohibit smoking in and around multi-unit residences (see attached). The proposed ordinance would amend the Torrance Municipal Code by adding Chapter 19 entitled “Smoking in Multi-Family Dwellings” to Division 4 of the Torrance Municipal Code. The purpose and intent of the proposed ordinance is to prohibit smoking in and around multi-unit residences to protect the health, safety, and general welfare of residents within the City of Torrance. The ordinance would require multi-unit residences to be smoke-free in the following areas:
- Indoor and common areas, such as halls, pathways, lobbies, stairwells, mail areas/rooms, community rooms, playgrounds, pools, laundry rooms, and parking lots;
- Individual units, including exclusive use balconies, porches, decks and patios; and
- A buffer zone of 25 feet around any doorway, window, opening or vent into a multi-unit residence.
For purposes of the proposed ordinance, a multi-unit residence includes a lot with two or more units, including, but not limited to, apartments, townhomes, condominium complexes, senior and assisted living facilities, and long-term health care facilities; or a lot with a unit attached to another unit on an adjacent lot, including but not limited to attached townhomes. The following do not constitute “units”: hotels; single-family homes; duplexes on a single-family Lot, accessory dwelling units, junior accessory dwelling units, and mobile homes in a mobile home park.
Other areas covered by the proposed ordinance are shown below.
- Purpose and Intent
- Definitions
- Smoking Prohibition in Multi-Unit Residence Units
- Smoking Prohibition in Multi-Unit Residence Common Areas Except in Designated Smoking Areas
- Smoking Prohibition within Buffer Zones
- Temporary Exemption
- Responsibility of Persons with Legal Control of Nonsmoking Areas
- Notice and Signage Requirements
- Lease Agreement Requirements
- Exception for Drug, Device, or Combination Product Authorized by United States Food and Drug Administration
- Smoking and Smoke Generally
- Prohibitions Apply to Cannabis
- Education
- Penalties and Enforcement
- Termination of Tenancy; Requirements, and
- Authority to Adopt Regulations to Implement this Chapter.
