Rockville to Hold Hearing on Smoking Ban for Outside Eating Areas

From Rockville.Gov: The Mayor and Council will hold a public hearing, Monday, March 27, on whether the City of Rockville should expand its smoking and vaping ban to include establishments with outdoor eating areas.

The potential move to smoke-free outside eating was discussed at the Monday, Feb. 6Mayor and Council meeting. In 2016, the Mayor and Council voted to follow Montgomery County code, allowing the county ban on smoking and vaping to apply to city parks, community centers, at Redgate Golf Course and all city facilities.

According to the American Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation, 392 municipalities in the U.S. have rules for smoke-free outside dining; 233 of those also have smoke-free outside bar-patio laws.

The Mayor and Council are encouraging input from local businesses and the community.

Testify during the March 27 Mayor and Council meeting, which begins at 7 p.m., or submit testimony in writing to cityclerk@rockvillemd.gov or City Clerk's Office, City Hall, 111 Maryland Ave., Rockville, MD 20850.

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