HAHarvey Walden
5 days agoBartlesville bans tobacco, smoke, and vapor on all city property
The City Council adopted an ordinance on Monday that updated the municipal code to create a Tobacco‑, Smoke‑, and Vapor‑Free policy for all City property. The new rules expanded the prior smoking ban to cover all tobacco products and vapor devices and applied the prohibition to City-owned, leased or operated property — indoors and outdoors — including parks, trails, recreation areas, playgrounds, City vehicles and equipment.
The ordinance incorporated applicable state law by reference, set clear definitions for terms (such as “municipal property,” “smoking,” “tobacco product,” and “vapor product”) and provides that certain violations may be addressed as a nuisance.
“By updating the code, the Council provided a clear, citywide standard: municipal property is now tobacco‑, smoke‑, and vapor‑free,” Community Development Director Larry Curtis said. “This change modernized rules which were written before electronic cigarettes and similar devices became common.
“We also addressed practical issues: signage will be posted, ash receptacles removed, and staff now have a straightforward enforcement framework. Those steps will make compliance easier and reduce litter across City property.”
Council members relied on public‑health and livability findings in approving the measure: the updated rules reduced exposure to secondhand smoke and aerosol, strengthened protections for children and employees, and aimed to cut litter and waste associated with smoking and vaping.
For further information, view the full ordinance.
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