Smoke-free Palo Alto

Tobacco use is the number one preventable cause of death and disease in California, killing nearly 40,000 Californians every year. A survey of Palo Alto multi-unit residents in 2015 indicated that 80% of multi-unit residents are bothered by smoking, and 90% favored smoking restrictions in multi-unit housing.

Two Palo Alto ordinances set requirements for tobacco sale and use: Municipal Code 4.64 (regulates where tobacco products can be sold) and Municipal Code 9.14 (regulates where tobacco products may be used). Both ordinances are summarized in this factsheet. 

Restrictions on where tobacco products may be sold: Municipal Code 4.64

On June 16, 2020, City Council adopted a Tobacco Retail Permit Ordinance which became effective on September 3, 2020. The ordinance prohibits the sale of all electronic cigarette and flavored tobacco products at all Palo Alto retailers.  The ordinance is administered and monitored by Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health and Santa Clara County Public Health Department.

New! Proposed Revisions to Palo Alto's Tobacco Retail Permit Ordinance

Palo Alto City Council is tentatively scheduled to consider proposed updates to its Municipal Code 4.64 - Permits for Retailers of Tobacco Products at its September 23, 2024 meeting. The proposed changes would realign Palo Alto’s ordinance with the recently updated Santa Clara County Tobacco Retail Permit Ordinance. Changes are largely administrative and would impose higher penalties for noncompliance. Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health notified Palo Alto tobacco retailers of proposed changes in May 2024. Comments were due to Santa Clara County on June 7, 2024 and will be summarized in a September 23 City of Palo Alto staff report.

To view the staff report and how to submit public comments to City Council, visit the City Agendas and Minutes webpage after September 12, when meeting materials for the September 23 meeting will be posted. Should City Council approve proposed ordinance revisions, notices will be sent to retailers notifying them of when ordinance changes become effective. 

Restrictions on where tobacco products may be used: Municipal Code 9.14

Smoking is prohibited in public spaces including indoor and outdoor dining areas, entryways, public events, recreation areas, service areas, commercial areas; outdoor service areas such as bus stops, ticket lines, places of employment, construction worksites, all City of Palo Alto facilities, and 25 feet from any opening into an enclosed area. Exceptions to the current ban may be allowed if a shopping center or commercial areas establishes a designated smoking area that is at least 25 feet away from any openings and includes receptacles to control litter.

Smoking is also restricted at multi-unit residences and common areas to reduce public exposure to secondhand smoke. The ordinance prohibits the use of cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, hookahs, pipes, electronic smoking devices, and any plant product intended for human inhalation including medical or recreational marijuana. Landlords and sellers of condominium units are required to give written notice to tenants and buyers about the smoking ban and to include smoking prohibitions as part of the terms of their lease and rental agreements.

Order Free "No Smoking" Signs

The City of Palo Alto provides free "no smoking" signs to both businesses and multi-unit property owners. Please view the tables below for business and multi-unit property sign options. Once your choices are made, provide the following information:

1. Full name of requestee
2. Phone number
3. Email address
4. Delivery address for the signs
5. Which signage option would you like (Multi-unit property owner sign option #1-6; or other business sign option A-D)?
6. Provide the quantity you would like of each sign and window decal.
7. Where will these signs be located? (name of business or multi-unit property)
8. Address of business or multi-unit property

Email us to order free signs!

Additional Resources

American Lung Association gives the City of Palo Alto an A-grade for Smokefree Outdoor Air, Smokefree Housing, and Reducing Tobacco Product sales.(PDF, 32KB)