Largo commission OKs first reading to expand smoking ban to vaping devices; vote 5-1

The Largo City Commission on Tuesday approved on first reading Ordinance 2025-26, which adds vaping and other vapor-generating electronic devices to the city’s existing smoking prohibitions at outdoor athletic facilities, playgrounds and certain park structures. The motion passed on a 5-1 vote; the second reading and public hearing is scheduled for July 15, 2025.

Supporters said the change clarifies enforcement and responds to complaints about vaping near children and during youth sports. A city staff member told commissioners that the amendment adds definitions for "smoking," "vape," "vaping," "vapor" and "vapor-generating electronic devices" and explicitly prohibits their active use at outdoor athletic fields and outdoor park structures so officials can enforce no-smoking rules that already exist in other parts of the code.

The ordinance text reads in part: "Amending the City of Largo Code of Ordinances section 17-1 to add definitions for smoking, vape, vaping, vapor, and vapor generating electronic devices and section 17-37 to prohibit smoking, vaping and active use of a vapor or vapor generating electronic device at outdoor athletic facilities and outdoor park structures." Staff said the changes respond to an increase in public use of vaping devices at playgrounds and fields and to complaints from patrons.

During discussion, some commissioners asked why shelters under roofed areas would still allow smoking while playgrounds and fields would be restricted. Staff said ashtrays were previously placed in shelters to reduce littering of cigarette butts and that the amendment is intended to target places where children and spectators congregate. Commissioner Johnson asked whether the change applied to all parks; staff confirmed the restrictions focus on playgrounds and athletic fields while other public spaces remain subject to existing smoke regulations.

Public comment drew opposition from resident Greg Gardner, who framed the ordinance as a civil-liberties issue and cited the 14th Amendment; Gardner said, "This ordinance is interesting is based on complaints. But it's a it's really a violation of civil liberties and we get right down to the fourteenth Amendment." Gardner also urged commissioners to defend constitutional rights while arguing that most vapers should be free to use parks. The commission did not act on Gardner’s constitutional argument during the meeting.

A commission member noted a Florida constitutional amendment adopted in February that addresses protection from secondhand smoke and said state law has treated vaping similarly to cigarettes since July 2019; staff reiterated those legal contexts during the discussion. The ordinance passed first reading 5-1; a second reading and public hearing are set for July 15, 2025.

Votes at the meeting on the ordinance were recorded as 5 in favor and 1 opposed; individual roll-call votes were not read aloud on the record.