County Council Extends Smoking Ban's Reach

No more smoking in the laundry room.

The Montgomery County Council unanimously approved a smoking ban in certain common areas of residences that house many families.

The bill the county council passed Tuesday included an amendment that extended the ban to within 25 feet of playgrounds on private properties, such as townhouse communities and subdivisions of single-family homes with common playground areas. 

The ban would not apply to homeowners with playground equipment in their private yards. 

Smoking would be prohibited in hallways, lobbies and laundry rooms, according to the new regulation, which takes effect Aug. 12.

Councilman George Leventhal (D-at large), who chairs the council’s Health and Human Services Committee, was the chief sponsor of the bill. Council Vice President Roger Berliner (D-1st district) was a co-sponsor.

While the bill passed unanimously, the amendment had one opposing vote — Councilman Craig Rice (D-2nd district), a nonsmoker. Rice, who represents Germantown, said he was concerned over how a smoking ban at private parks would be enforced.