Tobacco Control

• Since 1892, the Pasadena Public Health Department has pioneered efforts to help protect, maintain, and improve the health of the Pasadena community.
• The PPHD Tobacco Control Program has maintained an “A” grade from the American Lung Association Report Card since 2011 .
• On July 11, 2011, The Pasadena City Council unanimously voted to prohibit smoking in apartments and condominiums to protect residents from drifting tobacco smoke.
• Effective January 1, 2012, property owners and property managers must post No Smoking signs in the common areas of their building.
• On November 1, 2021, the City Council unanimously voted to ban the sale of all flavored tobacco and menthol products.

On November 1, 2021, the Pasadena City Council unanimously voted to ban the sale of all flavored and mentholated tobacco products in the City of Pasadena. In addition, the Pasadena Municipal Code was updated to align with the state and federal definitions of “smoking”, tobacco products, tobacco paraphernalia, tobacco use, age identification requirements, and tobacco sales. The consequences of repeated tobacco ordinance violations were also increased. The City of Pasadena began enforcing the ban in July 2022.

The Pasadena Tobacco Control Program works through a strategically developed Comprehensive Tobacco Workplan focused on the needs of the Pasadena community.

2022-2025 Comprehensive Tobacco Workplan Objectives:

1. Ending the sale of commercial tobacco
2. Community engagement
3. Smoke-free health care campuses

1. Most tobacco use is initiated and established during adolescence. Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
2. E-cigarettes have been the most commonly used tobacco product among youth since 2014 in the U.S. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
3. In the 2018-2019 school year, 5% of 7th graders from the Pasadena Unified School District had ever tried e-cigarettes or a vaping product. Source: 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment of Greater Pasadena
4.  In the 2018-2019 school year, 11th graders were 5 times as likely to have ever used an e-cigarette compared to a cigarette. Source: 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment of Greater Pasadena
5. In 2020, 32.8% of adult smokers in the San Gabriel Valley reported thinking about quitting smoking in the next 6 months. Source: 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment of Greater Pasadena

The following terms are defined in the tobacco use prevention ordinance within the Pasadena Municipal Code. 

Cannabis: “Cannabis” or ‘Marijuana” means all parts of the plant Cannabis sativa Linnaeus, Cannabis indica, or Cannabis ruderalis, whether growing or not; the seeds thereof; the resin, whether crude or purified, extracted from any part of the plant; and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of the plant, its seeds, or resin. "Cannabis" also means the separated resin, whether crude or purified, obtained from cannabis. "Cannabis" also means marijuana as defined by Section 11018 of the Health and Safety Code. "Cannabis" does not include the mature stalks of the plant, fiber produced from the stalks, oil or cake made from the seeds of the plant, any other compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of the mature stalks (except the resin extracted therefrom), fiber, oil, or cake, or the sterilized seed of the plant which is incapable of germination. "Cannabis" does not mean "industrial hemp" as defined by Section 81000 of the Food and Agricultural Code or Section 11018.5 of the Health and Safety Code.

Electronic Smoking Devices: "Electronic Smoking Device" means any device that may be used to deliver any aerosolized or vaporized substance to the person inhaling from the device, including, but not limited to, an e-cigarette, e-cigar, e-pipe, vape pen or e-hookah. Electronic Smoking Device includes any component, part or accessory of the device, and also includes any substance that may be aerosolized or vaporized by such device, whether or not the substance contains nicotine. Electronic Smoking Device does not include drugs, device or combination products authorized for sale by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, as those terms are defined in the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.

Flavored Tobacco Product: "Flavored Tobacco Product" means any tobacco product, as defined in this chapter, which imparts a characterizing flavor. This means a taste or aroma, other than the taste or aroma of tobacco, imparted either prior to or during consumption of a tobacco product or any byproduct produced by the tobacco product, including, but not limited to, any taste or smell relating to fruit, menthol, mint, wintergreen, chocolate, cocoa, vanilla, honey, or any candy, dessert, alcoholic beverage, herb or spice.

Smoking: "Smoking" means inhaling, exhaling, burning or carrying any lighted or heated cigar, cigarette or pipe or any other lighted or heated tobacco or plant product intended for inhalation, whether natural or synthetic, in any manner or in any form. "Smoking" includes the use of an electronic smoking device that creates an aerosol or vapor, in any manner or in any form, or the use of any oral smoking device for the purpose of circumventing the prohibition of smoking.

Tobacco Product: “Tobacco Product” means any of the following:

• A product containing, made or derived from tobacco or nicotine that is intended for human consumption, whether smoked, heated, chewed, absorbed, dissolved, inhaled, snorted, sniffed, or ingested by any other means, including, but not limited to cigarettes, cigars, little cigars, chewing tobacco, pipe tobacco, smokeless tobacco or snuff
• An electronic device that delivers nicotine or other vaporized liquids to the person inhaling from the device, including, but not limited to an electronic cigarette, cigar, pipe, or hookah.
• Any component, part, or accessory of a tobacco product, whether or not sold separately.
• Tobacco product does not include a nicotine replacement product approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration.

Vendor-Assisted Sale: “Vendor-Assisted Sale” means a purchase requiring a direct, face-to-face exchange between the retailer and the customer, in which the vendor has access to the tobacco product, and assists the customer by supplying the product. The customer does not take possession of the product until it is purchased.

The Tobacco Use Prevention Ordinance was adopted by the City of Pasadena to protect residents from the harmful effects of tobacco and tobacco smoke, and to align with federal and state definitions. The sections listed below can be found within the Pasadena Municipal Code.

Tobacco Use Ordinances:

• 8.78.051 – Prohibits smoking in public parks and community centers.
• 8.78.052 – Prohibits mobile vending of cigarettes.
• 8.78.060 – Prohibits smoking in enclosed public places.
• 8.78.061 – Requires vendor-assisted sales (excludes tobacco shops and cigar lounges).
• 8.78.062 – Requires purchaser identification.
• 8.78.063 – Sell of flavored and mentholated tobacco products prohibited.
• 8.78.070 – Prohibits smoking in all enclosed areas of a workplace.
• 8.78.071 – Prohibits smoking in certain outdoor public places:
  • Shopping malls
  • Outdoor dining areas
  • Service waiting lines (and within 20 feet)
  • Gatherings and events
  • Public libraries
• 8.78.072 – Prohibits smoking within 20 feet from any doorway, window, opening, or vent into an enclosed area in which smoking is prohibited (except while actively passing).
• 8.78.080 – Requires posting of “No Smoking” signs at businesses, commercial buildings, multi-unit housing, parks, community centers, and libraries.
• 8.78.085 – Prohibits smoking in all indoor and outdoor areas of multi-unit housing including private units, patios, and balconies.

Smoke-Free Housing Ordinance

• On July 11, 2011, Pasadena City Council unanimously approved amendments to the City’s Tobacco Use Prevention Ordinance to prohibit smoking in apartments and condominiums to protect residents from drifting tobacco smoke. Pasadena Municipal Code (PMC) Section 8.78.085 became effective on August 13, 2011 and updated in 2021.  For more detailed information, please review the following document:
  • Multi-Unit Housing Certified Ordinance 2021

In 2021, the Tobacco Control Program developed new “No-Smoking” signs placed throughout Pasadena to increase awareness of the updated Pasadena Municipal Codes on tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure.

Tobacco Retailer Ordinances:

• 5.74.040 – Requirement for tobacco retail licensure
• 5.74.050 – Application process
• 5.74.060 – Issuance and renewal of license
• 5.74.070 – Display of license
• 5.74.080 – License and reinspection fees
• 5.74.090 – Licenses nontransferable
• 5.74.100 – Suspension or revocation of license

Below are examples of stickers and flyers that are available to the community, local retailers, property owners, and property management companies.