At its Dec. 2 regular meeting, the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to amend two existing county ordinances to prohibit smoking, vaping and the littering of cigarette butts and vaping paraphernalia in county parks and on county-managed beaches.
The action updates the county’s park and beach regulations to restrict smoking and vaping on all county park property and within 600 feet of the Atlantic Ocean shoreline on county beaches.
The amendments also expand the definition of “litter” in both ordinances to include cigarette butts and vaping paraphernalia, making improper disposal of these items a violation under county code.
In accordance with state law, the amended ordinances do not prohibit cigars. Florida law restricts local governments from banning “unfiltered cigars,” and the county’s revisions explicitly reflect this limitation.
Summary of Key Provisions
The board’s action modifies two longstanding county regulations following authority granted to local governments by the Florida Legislature in 2022 to regulate smoking in parks and beaches.
This action by the board supports the St. Johns County Strategic Plan’s key pillars of community well-being and enhance conservation.
Enforcement
Violations of the amended provisions are subject to enforcement under the county’s existing public-conduct and littering regulations, which includes a fine of $53.
