HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. — Highland Heights is going smoke free. On Tuesday, June 20, the city council voted to pass a city-wide smoke free air ordinance, prohibiting smoking on city property, work places and enclosed public spaces. 

What You Need To Know

  • Highland Heights voted in favor of a smoke-free ordinance

  • The ordinance takes effect in 90 days

  • The city says implementing the ordinance will mean better overall health for the community

  • Highland Heights becomes the third northern Kentucky city to go smoke free

Highland Heights is the third northern Kentucky city to enact a smoke-free ordinance, joining Bellevue and Dayton. The city worked with health experts, including Breathe Easy Northern Kentucky, when drafting the ordinance and determining what it would do.

“On the business side, no smoking in the enclosed areas. Restaurants would have to have a designated place outside and a certain amount of feet from entrances or exits at the building and in enclosed areas,” said city administrator Michael Giffen.

The city believes this is what’s best for the community’s overall health.

“This was just another step we could take to ensure the future is going to be healthy as well. That was really important,” Giffen said.

Mac’s Pizza Pub in Cold Spring has been smoke-free since it opened in Dec. 2018. Owner Harvey Germain serves many in the Highland Heights community.

“Smoke isn’t good for you. We didn’t want our patrons to be sitting in smoke while they enjoyed the atmosphere and the vibe of Mac’s pizza pub,” he said.

Germain’s business has a Cold Spring address but is situated right across the street from Northern Kentucky University, which went smoke-free years ago.

Germain said it’s nice to see the city of Highland Heights make this healthy move.

“I think it’s a good thing for everybody in Highland heights that would normally be sitting next to a cigarette. It’s healthier not to,” Germain said.

The smoke-free air ordinance goes into effect in 90 days.

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