The City of Raleigh is tobacco-free at all public spaces. That includes smoking, vaping, and all other tobacco products. The Raleigh City Council passed this ordinance Jan. 20 and will go into effect April 20.
The City is committed to creating healthy, clean places for everyone—employees, residents, and visitors. Decades of research from trusted health organizations, including the CDC and the U.S. Surgeon General, show that tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke or e‑cigarette aerosol can cause serious health problems. These include heart disease, lung cancer, stroke, asthma, and other long‑term illnesses.
Secondhand smoke is especially dangerous for children, who face higher risks of lung infections, ear problems, more severe asthma, and even sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). There is no safe level of exposure.
Vaping isn’t harmless either. E‑cigarette aerosol is not “just water vapor.” It can contain nicotine and other harmful chemicals that can affect anyone nearby—including children, pregnant individuals, and non‑users.
To protect community health, many North Carolina cities and counties have put smoke‑free and vape‑free rules in place. These policies improve indoor and outdoor air quality, support people who want to quit using tobacco, and create safer, more welcoming public spaces.
By adopting these protections, the City is taking an important step to safeguard health, improve workplace environments, and ensure cleaner air in City buildings, vehicles, and grounds.
Wake County has more information about its effort to make all of Wake County tobacco free.