Gretna, LA Public Conduct: Outdoor Smoking Restrictions (2026)

Chapter 30, Article II of the Gretna Code of Ordinances, adopted under Ord. No. 3587 in 2006 to implement the state's Louisiana Smokefree Air Act, sets the city's general smoking rules. Sec. 30-26(a) makes it unlawful to smoke in any public building, any school, any public place, or any enclosed area within a place of employment, and bars an employer from knowingly permitting smoking in an enclosed workplace area. Sec. 30-26(b) then lists 14 outdoor and specialty exemptions. Two matter most for everyday outdoor conduct: subsection (6) exempts the outdoor area of a place of employment, though the owner or manager can flip that by posting signs, which makes the posted outdoor area smoke-free under the article; and subsection (13) exempts any outdoor patio outright, whether or not food is served there. Other listed exemptions cover private homes and vehicles (unless used for childcare transport), limousines under private hire, retail tobacco businesses, bars, up to half of a hotel's rooms if designated smoking rooms, and designated smoking areas tied to licensed gaming operations.

Sec. 30-27 requires No Smoking signs, or the international no-smoking symbol, to be posted conspicuously in every public building, public place, and place of employment where smoking is prohibited, and requires the owner, operator or manager to remove ashtrays from those areas. Sec. 30-26(c) also bars retaliation against anyone who complains about a violation or reports one to an enforcement authority.

Enforcement runs through Sec. 30-28: a law enforcement officer issues a citation and summons to a court of proper jurisdiction, and the court gives the alleged violator notice of a hearing date or a chance to pay a specified fine. Individual penalties escalate from $25.00 for a first offense to $50.00 for a second and $100.00 for a third or later offense; employer penalties run $100.00 for a first offense and $500.00 for a second or later offense.