Irondale, Alabama has voted vaping out of its public spaces. On Oct 20, the Irondale City Council approved Ordinance 2026-29, replacing the city’s existing smoking rules and widening them to cover electronic cigarettes, vaping devices, and heated tobacco products. The rule took effect immediately upon adoption.
Anyone caught vaping in a prohibited spot now faces a fine of $50 to $200 per violation. Owners and operators of public places can also be penalized if they knowingly fail to make a reasonable effort to tell people that smoking and vaping are not allowed there. Businesses must generally post clear notices, with Irondale police officers and authorized code enforcement officers handling compliance.
Where the ban reaches
The ordinance covers enclosed public places like restaurants, libraries, shopping malls, health care facilities, public transportation, and common areas in apartment buildings. Outdoor areas on city-owned land are included too, so playgrounds, pavilions, concession areas, pools, sports fields, and skate parks are now vape-free.
Local resident Jackson Hanes told the council he dislikes breathing vape aerosol in public spaces. Mayor James D. Stewart Jr. backed the measure, saying that “public safety and the health and welfare of citizens is a priority” and that the city wants its ordinances to match what state law allows. The council did not disclose the final vote count.
What stays legal
Not every corner of Irondale is affected. Here is how the new rules split:
| Vaping now banned | Vaping still allowed |
|---|---|
| Enclosed public places: restaurants, libraries, malls, health care facilities, public transit, apartment common areas | Private residences |
| Municipally owned parks and public-use lands: playgrounds, pavilions, concession areas, pools, sports fields, skate parks | Retail tobacco and vapor stores |
| Other designated outdoor public areas under city control | Bars and lounges that are not part of a restaurant |
| Private clubs, under certain conditions | |
| Outdoor restaurant areas more than 25 feet from a public entrance or exit |
One practical detail vapers should note: restaurant patios are only protected if they sit at least 25 feet from a public entrance or exit. Anything closer falls under the ban.
Irondale joins a growing list of US localities tightening rules on where vaping is permitted, mirroring the wider enforcement push seen in places like Pennsylvania’s directory law. Across the Atlantic, regulators are moving in the same direction with the UK’s October 29 vape rules.
Source: WIAT (CBS 42), published Oct 20, 2026, reporting on the Irondale City Council vote approving Ordinance 2026-29.