Smoke Free Parks

September 1, 2011 marked the one-year milestone of the no-smoking bylaw,
prohibiting smoking in all of Vancouver's beautiful parks and beaches.
Feedback and compliance from residents and visitors alike have been positive.
Thank-you for supporting a healthy urban environment!

Vancouver has joined a long and growing list of cities and regions in North America and internationally that ban smoking in parks and on beaches. Vancouver's ban took effect September 1, 2010, prohibiting smoking in all 224 parks.

• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The list of places impacted includes beaches, golf courses, playgrounds, sports fields, trails, seawall, business and attractions, and parking lots that are within the boundaries of a park.

This initiative is supported by Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services as well as a number of health-related agencies including Clean Air Coalition , Canadian Cancer Society (BC & Yukon)  and Vancouver Coastal Health 

The Vancouver Park Board voted unanimously to make the city's parks and beaches smoke-free for medical, environmental and safety reasons. In the past smoking has been banned in parks when the fire risk is high during hot, dry summers.

Related information

News Releases

1. September 1, 2010 Vancouver's parks and beaches now smoke-free
2. July 6, 2010 Smoke-free parks bylaw takes effect September 1, 2010
3. April 20, 2010 Park Board approves smoke-free parks and beaches

Reports and bylaws

1. Staff report: July 5, 2010 Park Board Smoking Regulation and Ticket Offences Bylaws
2. Staff report: April 19, 2010 No-smoking policy for Vancouver Parks and Beaches
3. Park Board Smoking Regulation Bylaw
4. City of Vancouver Health Bylaw No. 9535
5. Fire safety in Vancouver parks
6. FAQs

External agencies

• Clean Air Coalition of B.C.
• Canadian Cancer Society (BC Yukon)
• Vancouver Coastal Health
• Great Canadian Shoreline Clean Up