Smoking & Vaping Banned in St. Johns County Parks & Beaches

St. Johns County just rolled out a new update that’s already stirring a lot of neighborhood conversations — smoking and vaping are now banned at all county-owned parks, playgrounds, and beaches. If you’ve ever stepped around discarded vape pods or found cigarette butts hiding in the sand, you probably get why this change is happening.

You can read the full update directly from the county here:
👉 https://www.sjcfl.us/sjc-bans-smoking-vaping-in-parks-beaches/

This new rule covers the places where most of us spend time with our families: playgrounds, ballfields, walking trails, community parks, boat ramps, and all traditional beachfront areas. The only exception is unfiltered cigars, which the state allows counties to exempt — and yes, that’s the part that’s getting everyone talking.

While the rule may feel a little surprising, the goal is simple:
Cleaner spaces, cleaner air, and fewer leftover filters and vape trash in the places we love.

Anyone who spends time at the beach knows how quickly small litter adds up. Plus, this helps our local wildlife and keeps our shoreline looking great for residents and visitors alike.

Ashtrays have also been removed from county buildings as part of the transition, nudging everything toward a more fresh-air–focused experience. Whether you’re taking kids to the playground, walking the dog, or enjoying a beach sunset, it should feel a little cleaner moving forward.

At the end of the day, St. Johns County is trying to protect the charm and natural beauty that draw so many people here — and keep our outdoor spaces as welcoming as possible for the whole community.

If you want to read the county’s official breakdown, check it out here:
👉 https://www.sjcfl.us/sjc-bans-smoking-vaping-in-parks-beaches/