LAPLACE — Visitors to the St. John the Baptist Parish government complex will have to be at least 50 feet away from the new building to be able to smoke.

Soon, all parish buildings are likely to share similar restrictions.

St. John Parish Council members adopted an ordinance to reaffirm the prohibition on smoking in parish-owned buildings and include the 50-foot restriction on the new building.

Members also expressed a desire to expand the ordinance to include the 50-foot ban for all parish buildings, but since it was not written that way in the original ordinance, the proposal will have to be brought up in a future meeting, likely when the council meets again Tuesday.

— By Richard Meek