FINDLAY - The city's long-awaited smoking ordinance goes into effect today, although smokers won't notice too many differences in where they can light up.

Mayor Tony Iriti said the ashtrays outside the municipal building will be moved in keeping with a new regulation that prohibits smoking within 25 feet of the main entrances to all governmental buildings.

City Council voted 6-3 last month to adopt a smoking ordinance that makes few changes in the regulations adopted by the city health department in late 1992.

The new ordinance continues to allow smoking in bars and restaurants, although restaurants that seat more than 70 people must designate 30 percent or less of the total floor space as a smoking area.

First Published October 21, 2004, 12:09 p.m.