Person smoking a cigarette at the beach. Since Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill over the summer allowing local governments to ban smoking on public beaches, Miami Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, Palm Beach and Monroe County have passed legislation enforcing the ban.

That’s an excellent question, and the answer is: It depends entirely on the specific county and city where the beach is located. There is no single statewide law that bans smoking on all public beaches in Florida.

However, the trend is strongly moving toward bans, and a large majority of Florida’s coast is now covered by local ordinances.

Here’s a breakdown of the current situation:

1. State Law (Limited)

Florida has a statewide ban on smoking in enclosed indoor workplaces. This does not apply to open outdoor areas like beaches. So, at the state level, smoking on a beach is generally permitted unless a local law says otherwise.

2. Local Ordinances (The Key Factor)

This is what you must check. Many counties and municipalities have passed their own laws prohibiting smoking (both cigarettes and often e-cigarettes/vaping) on public beaches and in parks.

• Complete County-Wide Bans: Several coastal counties have banned smoking on all public beaches within their jurisdiction.
  • Examples: Pinellas County (Clearwater, St. Pete Beach), Broward County, Palm Beach County, Volusia County (Daytona Beach), Indian River County, St. Lucie County, and Martin County.
• City-Specific Bans: Even in counties without a blanket ban, major cities often have their own rules.
  • Examples: Miami Beach, Key West, Naples, Sarasota, St. Augustine, and Fernandina Beach all have bans.
• Partial Bans: Some areas may restrict smoking to designated