Smoking Ban Ordinance

The Board of Commissioners for the City of Paducah adopted an ordinance on September 22, 2006 that prohibits the smoking of tobacco products in buildings open to the public.  The ordinance was adopted with a deadline for compliance by April 1, 2007.  To download a copy of the Ordinance on the Prohibition of Smoking in Paducah, click below. The document is in Adobe PDF format.

Smoking Ban Ordinance, City of Paducah, KY (32.7 KB)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the smoking ordinance just for restaurants and bars?     No, the no-smoking ordinance is NOT just for restaurants. It applies to any public building or enclosed area that is open to the public.

Where are some of the places that smoking IS definitely allowed?     Smoking is allowed:  at home, in hotel rooms where smoking is permitted, in private offices, in outdoor beer gardens, and in break rooms when there is another smoke-free break room

Where are some of the places that smoking IS DEFINITELY NOT allowed?     Smoking is not allowed:  in restaurants or bars, in hotel lobbies or business lobbies that are open to the public, in bingo halls or church recreation rooms, in government buildings frequented by the public, and in public hallways and bathrooms

Can I add an outdoor beer garden to my bar or restaurant and allow smoking in it?     Yes, but before you spend any money on fencing or sunshades, check with the City Building Department at 444-8600. There are fire exit, setback, and other life-safety code rules that apply to outdoor service areas attached to a bar or restaurant. City staff members will make sure your plans comply with the rules.

Responsibility of Business Owners

If you are an owner, employer, manager, or person in control of an enclosed area and someone smokes in your establishment on or after April 1, 2007, you have the responsibility to ask them to refrain from smoking in the public area. If they refuse, you note this response, report it with the Paducah Police Department (270-444-8550), and the individual can receive fines starting at $50. If as owner you refuse to ask patrons not to smoke, you can be cited with fines up to $250. In addition to individual persons being fined, if the same business (whether owner, employer, manager, or person in control of an enclosed area) violates this ordinance three times in one year, the result could be the suspension or revocation of any permit or business license issued by the City for the premises where the violation occurs.

The ordinance also calls for No Smoking Signs or the International No Smoking Symbol to be clearly posted in every building and enclosed area. All ashtrays and ash containers are to be removed.

Responsibility of Patrons and Citizens

A person who smokes in an area regardless of the owner's reminder that smoking is prohibited in an area can be fined $50.  They may also be asked to leave the premises if they refuse to do so.