Source: https://www.culvercity.org/how-do-i/learn/smoking-ban-in-multi-unit-housing
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 03:20:05+00:00

Document:
On October 27, 2014, the City Council of the City of Culver City adopted Ordinance No. 2014-006, amending Chapter 9.11 of the Culver City Municipal Code (CCMC), Smoking Regulations, to add a new Subchapter 9.11.200, et seq., to prohibit smoking in multi-unit housing.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nonsmokers who live in multi-unit dwellings can be exposed to neighbors’ secondhand smoke through doorways, cracks in walls, electrical lines, plumbing and ventilation systems.
The City Council’s intent in adopting the Ordinance is to control exposure to secondhand smoke by prohibiting smoking in all areas of multi-unit housing including, but not limited to, common areas and individual units, patios and balconies. Qualified designated smoking areas established on multi-unit housing property are excluded from the smoking ban (pursuant to the criteria set forth in CCMC § 9.11.215.B).
Click here to view a copy of Ordinance No. 2014-006.
October 27, 2014 – Ordinance adopted by the City Council.
The smoking provisions of the Ordinance must be enforced through private legal action as set forth in CCMC §§ 9.11.255 and 9.11.260. The City will provide some limited enforcement for certain provisions of the Ordinance (i.e. signage requirements, designated smoking area requirements, etc.), as set forth in CCMC § 9.11.255.B.
In conjunction with limiting the enforcement of smoking violations to private parties, the City Council included a directive provision in the Ordinance to require the City Manager to review the effectiveness of the private and limited City enforcement of the Ordinance and provide an informational memorandum to the City Council. Such review shall occur 12 months after full implementation of the Ordinance (on or after May 26, 2017).
If you are a landlord or HOA Board of a multi-unit complex and are interested in hosting a Community Meeting for your residents concerning the Multi-Unit Housing Smoking Ban or would like to request an on-site consultation, please contact the Enforcement Services Division at 310-253-5940 or e-mail a request.
Please check back to this webpage for more information on the Community Outreach and Education Program as it becomes available.
For inquiries, please contact us via email or submit a service request.
If you would like to receive public notification regarding future meetings or other announcements relating to the implementation of the Ordinance, please click here to sign up for the City’s email notification system for the Topic “Smoking – Multi-Unit Housing”.
Is the use of e-cigarettes permitted in areas where smoking is prohibited? Yes. The use of electronic smoking devices (i.e. e-cigarettes) is permitted in the units, including individual balconies and patios, in common areas and throughout the property. The definition of “smoke” as discussed in these FAQs, above, excludes vapors from electronic smoking devices.
Is the use of medical marijuana (that is smoked) permitted in areas where smoking is prohibited? No. The smoking of medical marijuana is prohibited in all areas smoking is prohibited, including inside units, on individual balconies and patios, in common areas and smoke-free buffer zones. State law [Health and Safety Code § 11362.79(a)] provides that nothing in the Compassionate Care Act of 1996 (the Act which allows the use of medical marijuana) authorizes the use of medical marijuana in any place where smoking is prohibited by law. The City’s Ordinance prohibits smoking in multi-unit housing; therefore, the smoking of medical marijuana is also prohibited. Further, the federal Fair Housing Act reasonable accommodation provisions exclude the use of a “controlled substance” from protection and under federal law marijuana is still considered a controlled substance.
Does a landlord or HOA Board have to post any signs? Yes. If a landlord or HOA Board establishes a designated smoking area, then such area must be clearly identified by conspicuous signs. In addition, “No Smoking” signs must be posted in sufficient numbers and locations to make common areas where smoking is prohibited obvious to a reasonable person. Sign requirements are set forth in CCMC § 9.11.215.D or click here to obtain a sample sign. You may also pick up a sample sign at City Hall-Enforcement Services Division, 2nd Floor, 9770 Culver Blvd, Culver City. Failure to post the required signage could lead to a citation.
How do I report a smoking violation? Smoking violations may be reported to your landlord or HOA Board, as smoking is a violation of lease provisions and HOA rules. Your landlord or HOA Board, however, is not responsible for enforcement of the CCMC (see below FAQ). Enforcement of the smoking prohibition must be done through a private civil action (see below FAQ).
Does a landlord or HOA Board have to enforce the smoking laws? No. Landlords and HOA Boards are not required to enforce smoking violations of their tenants/homeowners, visitors or other invitees. They are not subject to additional liability for smoking violations that occur, as long as they have complied with the requirements to provide proper notification to tenants/homeowners and to include the required provisions in each tenant’s lease or in the HOA rules, as applicable. Landlords and HOA Boards may be subject to other liability under landlord-tenant or HOA law for enforcing lease provisions or HOA rules, but that is not within the purview of the City.
Does the City enforce the Ordinance? City enforcement of the Ordinance is limited to provisions relating to required signage, requirements for designated smoking areas, requirements to provide notice to tenants and homeowners regarding the smoking regulations and requirements to amend leases and HOA rules and regulations. City-enforced violations may be prosecuted as an infraction or misdemeanor and are subject to criminal penalties of up to $1000 at the discretion of the City Attorney. City-enforced violations are also subject to administrative citation resulting in fines of up to $500 per violation; and civil action with civil fines of up to $1000 per violation. (CCMC § 9.11.255) The City does not enforce smoking violations in multi-unit housing, but has established a process for private enforcement, as discussed in these FAQs and on this webpage below.
How is the smoking ban enforced? A comprehensive provision for private enforcement of smoking violations through civil remedies is included in the CCMC. Any person, including a legal entity or organization, may bring a civil action to enforce a smoking violation. The process for such enforcement action is set forth in CCMC § 9.11.260. For more information on the rules and procedures for filing a civil action in court, please visit the website for The Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles at https://www.lacourt.org/.

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