The Scottsdale City Council has unanimously approved an update to the city’s smoking ordinance, expanding it to include electronic smoking devices such as e-cigarettes and vape pens. The revised law, adopted on September 30 through Ordinance No. 4689, replaces older provisions in Section 19-16 of the Scottsdale Revised Code and brings local regulations in line with Arizona’s Smoke Free Arizona Act. The changes go further by specifically addressing concerns related to vaping.
A key factor behind this update was advocacy from Siddhanth (Sid) Gupta, a junior at Desert Mountain High School and member of the Scottsdale Mayor’s Youth Council. Sid led a petition in May 2025 calling for the city to address teen vaping through modernized legislation.
“I realized that Scottsdale’s ordinance hadn’t kept up with the vaping epidemic that’s affecting my generation,” Sid said in a prepared statement. “If you want to see change in the world, you have to go out and do it yourself, and I wanted to make sure my city was protecting people from secondhand vapor just like it does with smoke.”
Mayor Lisa Borowsky commended Sid’s efforts and highlighted community involvement in shaping the new policy. “Sid’s leadership exemplifies the power of youth voices in shaping public policy,” said Mayor Borowsky. “This ordinance reflects Scottsdale’s commitment to protecting public health and ensuring our laws evolve with the times.”
Public feedback played a role in guiding these changes, as more than 200 residents participated via the Speak Up Scottsdale platform, showing strong support for expanding protections against secondhand smoke and vapor.
The updated ordinance prohibits both traditional smoking and vaping in public places and workplaces throughout Scottsdale, except for certain limited exceptions. Fines for violations range from $100 to $300 for individuals; other civil violations can result in penalties up to $2,500.
“This ordinance ensures Scottsdale is keeping pace with both state law and community expectations,” said Interim City Attorney Luis Santaella in a city news release. “By including electronic smoking devices in the city’s definition of smoking, we are closing gaps in the law and providing clear protections for residents and visitors.”
