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Smoking may be banned on Gulfport beaches

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Published  May 20, 2025 7:29am EDT
Pinellas County
FOX 13 News
Beach smoking ban proposal

Beach smoking ban proposal

Gulfport is expected to vote on a beach smoking ban on Tuesday. Mariah Harrison reports.

The Brief

    • There is a proposal to ban smoking on Gulfport beaches.
    • Gulfport city council will vote on the proposed ordinance on Tuesday.
    • Residents and council members in favor of the ban call it a win for local waterways, as many cigarette butts and tobacco end up in the water.

GULFPORT, Fla. - Cigarette butts in the sand and smoke in the air aren’t the way city council members want visitors to think about Gulfport public beaches. 

Local perspective:

On Tuesday, there will be a second reading and vote on a proposed ordinance to ban cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, and tobacco products on Gulfport public beaches. 

It appears the proposed ordinance does allow an exception for unfiltered cigarettes. 

READ: Governor DeSantis signs Boater Freedom Act

The city of Gulfport successfully passed a similar ordinance about a decade ago, but it was overturned when challenged in court. 

Residents and council members in favor of the ban call it a win for local waterways, as many cigarette butts and tobacco end up in the water. 

READ: Family owned hotel in Sunset Beach reopens 8 months after Hurricane Helene: 'The place was decimated'

The other side:

Those against it say Gulfport beaches have more of a trash problem and should be cleaned more frequently. 

Click here to read the proposed ordinance.

The Source: This story was written with information gathered by FOX 13's Mariah Harrison. 

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