Lee County adopts ban on smoking and vaping at county parks and beaches

Lee County commissioners voted unanimously June 17 to adopt an amendment to the Lee County Parks and Recreation Ordinance that prohibits smoking and vaping at county parks and public beaches.

The ordinance change, presented to the board by Amanda Swindle of the county attorney’s office, extends an existing indoor-smoking prohibition to outdoor parks and beaches “in accordance with Florida statutes,” Swindle told the commission before the public-comment period began.

Public-health groups, county health officials, teachers, students and parents made up the largest public-comment turnout of the meeting. Sally Krusher, director of community health and benefit at Lee Health and chairperson of Tobacco Free Lee, told commissioners: “Tobacco use remains one of the leading preventable causes of disease and death” and urged adoption to protect children, older adults and people with chronic conditions. Student speakers described direct health effects: Orlando Hernandez, a Florida Southwestern Collegiate High School student, said, “I grew up with asthma... Even now, I instinctively hold my breath when I walk past people who are smoking or vaping.” Marco Diaz Fuerte, a respiratory therapy student, warned that “outdoor exposure can have serious health consequences” for people with asthma and COPD.

Speakers cited local precedent and enforcement experience: the city of Fort Myers adopted a similar parks-and-beaches prohibition in 2023, and advocates told the commission they had seen few enforcement problems since that change. Multiple commenters also highlighted environmental impacts from cigarette litter and concerns that visible smoking and vaping normalizes the behavior for youth.

Commissioners asked staff about enforcement logistics and whether vaping products would be included; speakers and several commissioners urged that e-cigarettes be explicitly covered. After public comment, a motion to adopt the amendment was made and seconded; the board voted unanimously to approve the ordinance amendment.

The county will publish the ordinance language and follow typical ordinance-adoption procedures, including posting and signage at county parks and beaches; the commission and staff indicated they would return with enforcement details and implementation timelines as needed.

Votes at the June 17 meeting included unanimous approval of the parks-and-rec ordinance amendment.

Ending: With the vote, Lee County joined neighboring municipalities in restricting smoking and vaping in outdoor public recreation areas; staff indicated they will return with implementation details and signage language for parks and beaches.