BELLEVUE, Ky. — A new smoke-free ordinance goes into effect in Bellevue, Ky., and it has a mixed response from some in the community.

What You Need To Know

  •  Bellevue's Smoke-Free Air Ordinance goes into effect Monday, May 15

  •  City leaders passed the ordinance back in February

  •  It prohibits smoking in public buildings and certain other public areas

  • There will be penalties such as fines for those who break the ordinance

The owner of Danyelle’s Bellevue Tavern, Keith Gwynn, for example, doesn’t support it, even though his tavern has been smokeless since opening their doors in 2019.

“Business owners go into business to work in confinement with the law, but also have freedom to express ourselves,” Gwynn said.

He’s not afraid to share how he feels about the ordinance, however. “I’m not in agreeance with it. I’ll support it,” he said.

The new ordinance for Bellevue passed in February but isn’t in effect until Monday, May 15.

“It affects anybody that is in a public place,” explained Bellevue Mayor Charlie Cleves. “So if you’re in your own house, you can do what you want. If you’re in your own yard, you can do what you want. If you’re walking down the street, you can smoke, but you got to stay ten feet away. You can’t stand within ten feet of the door and let the smoke blow inside.”

Smoking, including electronic cigarettes, will be prohibited in enclosed public spaces — such as bars and restaurants. Outdoor seating will also be impacted, according to city leaders.

“I really care about people’s rights and freedom, you know? I think this is one thing that’s a government control and it shouldn’t be,” Gwynn shared.

City leaders said the decision comes after much discussion and guidance from the health department and other cities who’ve implented a similar ordinance. They said the new ordinance could help combat some of the adverse health effects from smoking and limit people’s exposure to it.

They hope other Kentucky cities will consider an ordinance like theirs after seeing how it works.

“We gotta get more people doing it!” said Cleves. “But they say you will notice a noticeable amount of the cancer rates and heart attacks and all caused by the smoking once you eliminate it from the places where people have to work in an environment where other people are smoking.”

City leaders are also optimistic it might be a positive influence for a younger generation to avoid smoking.

The ordinance has penalties that patrons will incur if they break the new ordinance, including fines. 

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