Dallas City Council adds vaping to smoke-free ordinance
DALLAS - Dallas City Council on Wednesday approved an ordinance that would ban the use of electronic smoking devices in areas where smoking is already prohibited.
The approved ordinance adds the vaping restriction to areas where smoking was previously banned: all indoor and enclosed spaces, within 15 feet of building entrances and on park property.
The ordinance will go in effect on Dec. 11, 2025.
"I am proud to work alongside my fellow councilmembers, in partnership with the Environmental Commission, to advance policy that makes sense. As we know, vaping is a serious public health matter impacting our youth and most vulnerable. I am pleased about today’s vote to enact these amendments," council member Kathy Stewart said.
The new ordinance does not add new spaces to the list of areas where smoking is banned.
"This ordinance fortifies the City’s commitment to restrict vaping in public spaces after collaboration with our community partners and identifying the negative health effects of vaping aerosol exposure," Interim City Manager Kimberly Tolbert said. "This is an exciting day because the approval of the ordinance closes an important regulatory gap and better protects the health of our residents from the negative effects of electronic smoking devices."
The ordinance was proposed by the city of Dallas Environmental Commission and the Office of Environmental Quality and Sustainability.
The amendment requires businesses to update their signage to clearly state that smoking and vaping are prohibited.
Secondhand vaping effects
While the effects of being exposed to secondhand e-cigarette aerosols are still being studied, experts told Dallas City Council members in March that scientists are seeing links to cancer as well as asthma-like symptoms.
Even though e-cigarettes don't produce smoke like tobacco cigarettes, they do produce particulates in an aerosol that bystanders inhale.
The American Heart Association, Dallas Fort Worth Hospital Council and Dallas County Medical Society were among the organizations calling on Dallas to ban vaping indoors and at parks like it already does smoking.
Doctors say studies show the particulates released from vaping can impact a person's health.
The Office of Environmental Quality said effects from PM2.5, some of the smallest particulates, can cause birth defects.