Smoking & Tobacco Retail License Ordinances

Print Feedback

Font Size: + -

In 2008, the City of Novato was one of the first cities in the nation to enact a smoking ordinance aimed at improving the health of the community and protecting vulnerable citizens. Since 2008, other cities in the nation and Marin have taken additional measures to ensure the health and safety of their citizens by ensuring definitions are clear for both clarity in understanding and enforcement of the ordinances. Novato's City Council asked staff to work with the Marin County Health & Human Services Tobacco Related Disease Control Department.

Resources for Multifamily & Homeowners Associations:

Sample Letter to Homeowners Template_for Novato's Smoke-Free Ordinance (MS-Word File)

Sample Letter to Tenants Template_for Novato's Smoke-Free Ordinance (MS-Word File)

Model Smokefree Lease Addendum (PDF)

Timeline:

October 25, 2016: Staff provided Council with an informational item on the Smoking Ordinance

November 23, 2016: Letters mailed to owners and managers of multi-unit housing complexes & tobacco retailers

December 1, 2016: Public meetings held for owners and managers of multi-unit housing complexes & tobacco retailers (2 attendees from owner/manager meeting and 0 attendees for tobacco retail meeting); The city received one email and one phone call about updating the ordinance. All public feedback was summarized and included in the presentation on 1/10/17.

December 20, 2016: Letters mailed to owners and managers of multi-unit housing complexes & tobacco retailers

1st week January: Alert posted in Novato Chamber's E-newsletter

January 10, 2017: Public Hearing & First Reading of Smoking Ordinance & Tobacco Retail License Ordinance @ City Council Meeting, 6:30pm - OCCURRED

January 24, 2017: Planned Second Reading & Adoption of Smoking Ordinance @ City Council Meeting, 6:30pm - SMOKING ORDINANCE APPROVED; DEFERRED TOBACCO RETAIL LICENSE ORDINANCE to January 31, 2017.

January 31, 2017: Second Reading & Adoption of Tobacco Retail License Ordinance @ City Council Meeting, 6:30pm - TOBACCO RETAIL LICENSE ORDINANCE APPROVED

15 Days after Adoption: Smoking Ordinance text was posted in local newspaper

March 30, 2017: Staff met with tobacco retailers and Marin County Department of Health and Human Services
Tobacco Related Disease Control Program

November 30, 2017: Letters mailed to owners and managers of multi-unit housing complexes & tobacco retailers

December 5, 2017: Public Hearing & First Reading of REVISED Tobacco Retail License Ordinance

September 7, 2021: Letters mailed to tobacco retailers

September 17, 2021: Notice of public hearing on REVISED Tobacco Retail License Ordinance published in Marin IJ

September 28, 2021: Planned Public Hearing & First Reading of REVISED Tobacco Retail License Ordinance

October 26, 2021: Second Reading & Adoption of REVISED Tobacco Retail License Ordinance @ City Council Meeting, 6:00pm - REVISED TOBACCO RETAIL LICENSE ORDINANCE APPROVED

November 11, 2021: Letters mailed to tobacco retailers