Ban Butts from Our Beaches, Palm Beach

Victory! The Town of Palm Beach passed an ordinance banning cigarette smoking in its municipally owned beaches and parks. 

In June, Surfrider’s Florida network celebrated the passage of HB105 Regulation of Smoking by Counties and Municipalities. Surfrider has long advocated for banning smoking on Florida’s beaches as a pathway to reduce plastic pollution and prevent cigarette litter from entering waterways and harming marine life.

Under the new law effective July 1, 2022 Florida counties and municipalities can restrict smoking within the boundaries of any public beach or park they own, except for unfiltered cigars. Surfrider supports local municipal efforts to enact smoking bans and prevent the harmful effects of cigarette butt litter.

Surfrider's Palm Beach County Chapter supported a strong beach smoking ban ordinance for the Town of Palm Beach. The town took the first step toward this end by approving a first reading of a beach smoking ban ordinance at the July 12, 2022 council meeting. The ordinance passed on second reading at the regularly scheduled town council meeting on August 9, 2022. Surfrider's Palm Beach County Chapter actively advocated for this ordinance with the town council and looks forward to reducing cigarette butt litter on its pristine beaches!