Ban Butts from Our Beaches, Delray Beach

Victory! On August 16, 2022 the Delray Beach City Commission passed an ordinance banning cigarette smoking from its beaches and parks with the full support of Surfrider and its Palm Beach County Chapter.

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.

The beach smoking ban ordinance passed second reading on August 16, 2022. The Palm Beach County Chapter actively advocated for the ordinance to pass and wrote a letter in support with staff to the City Commission to support this important legislation.