Eagle County’s Smoking Ordinance
Eagle County's smoking ordinance aims to further prevention of premature deaths and illnesses from secondhand smoke by making all public places and work places, including restaurants, bars, and 90 percent of hotel rooms, smoke-free. Additionally, outdoor areas including lift lines, chairlifts and gondolas, and recreation areas will become smoke-free. This important public health measure is intended to protect patrons, workers, children, and families. It will ensure that all Eagle County residents and visitors receive equal protection from the dangers of secondhand smoke.
The Environmental Protection Agency has classified secondhand smoke as a Group A carcinogen, like asbestos. Secondhand smoke is responsible for an estimated 53,000 deaths annually among adult nonsmokers in the U.S. – deaths caused by cancer, heart and lung disease, and other health complications. According to the National Cancer Institute, serious impacts of secondhand smoke on children include asthma, bronchitis, and pneumonia, middle ear infection, chronic respiratory symptoms, and low birth weight.
Eagle County Smoking Ordinance: The Bottom Line
Since March 2006 smoking has been prohibited in public places, places of employment, service lines, at recreational facilities or at outdoor seating areas. The ordinance is in effect for unincorporated Eagle County and the town of Avon. These places include, but are not limited to:
- bars
- restaurants
- lift lines
- chairlifts/gondolas
- outdoor recreation areas
- skate parks
- soccer fields
- ball fields
- playgrounds
- stadiums
- grandstands
- fairgrounds
- bowling alleys
- public restrooms
- public meeting rooms
- grocery stores
- convenience stores
- hallways
- lobbies
- elevators
- common areas
- Smoking is also not permitted within a 25 foot perimeter of any of the above.
Smoking is allowed in the following places:
- private residences unless used as child care, health care, or adult care facilities
- 10 percent of guest lodging rooms including hotels, motels, condos, bed & breakfast inns and townhomes
- private clubs that have no employees
- outdoor uncovered parking garages in compliance with the 25-foot perimeter rule
- retail tobacco stores
Download the Smoking Ordinance informational brochure