San Diego Considers 25-Foot Smoking and Vaping Ban Near Outdoor Dining

A proposal to establish a 25-foot smoke- and vape-free zone around outdoor dining areas in San Diego has moved a step closer to becoming law. The San Diego City Council's Neighborhood Services Committee voted to send the measure to the full council for further deliberation.

Councilmember Jennifer Campbell is leading the effort, which aims to create a consistent policy across the city. Her office stated that the proposal has significant public backing, with 78% of surveyed San Diego residents and 88% of surveyed restaurant workers expressing support. This initiative would align San Diego with the majority of its county.

Currently, 15 out of San Diego County's 19 jurisdictions have smoke- and vape-free outdoor dining rules, while San Diego itself has largely allowed individual restaurants to set their own policies. A July 2025 report from the San Diego State University Policy Research Center for Tobacco and the Environment identified San Diego as the largest city in the county without such a comprehensive policy.

Supporters of the ban emphasize its role in protecting the public from secondhand and thirdhand smoke exposure. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, secondhand smoke has been linked to millions of deaths since 1964.

The proposed regulations would include specific exemptions. Outdoor areas adjacent to bars or nightclubs that require patrons to be at least 18 years old would be excluded, as would areas near establishments closed for private events. However, for general public outdoor dining spaces, the 25-foot buffer would establish a citywide standard.