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Outdoor smoking areas not addressed under Florida statute 

Q. At a recent meeting, the board decided to ban smoking at the outdoor pools and near the clubhouse. They said Florida law does not allow smoking at a public place. Is a condominium pool considered a public place? Can the board elect to do this by themselves? —D.B., Sanford

A. There is a Florida statute concerning indoor smoking, FS 386, but it does not cover outdoor areas. In past columns, I have recommended that the board set aside a smoking area and a nonsmoking area. Maybe the board establishes a nonsmoking near the clubhouse and a smoking area on the outside of the pool deck. What some smokers do not realize is that their second-hand smoke can be hazardous to some people. I have volunteered at a village that brings terminally ill children and their families to Central Florida for a week and provides tickets to the theme parks.

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