A measure banning smoking in outdoor dinning areas throughout U.S. city of Los Angeles took effect on Tuesday, demonstrating the city’s resolve to create a healthier environment for its citizens.

Thus, Los Angeles has become the largest city in the nation to outlaw smoking in outdoor dining areas.

The ban is applied to restaurant patios, food courts and food kiosks, food cars and mobile food trucks. But bars, nightclubs and buildings hosting private events are exempt from the policy.

Those who violate the smoking ban — diners and business owners alike — face fines up to 500 U.S. dollars.

The state already prohibits lighting up inside restaurants and bars. The city is expanding the smoking ban to within 10 feet of outdoor dining areas, including food courts; and within 40 feet of food kiosks, food cars and mobile food trucks.

When announcing the ban last week, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said the city is setting “a standard for healthy living.”

“Angelenos already enjoy smoke-free parks, beaches and farmer’s markets, and now they will be able to enjoy all the wonderful outdoor dining that L.A. has to offer without exposure to toxic secondhand smoke,” Villaraigosa said.

The city council approved the smoking ban in January last year, but businesses were given a grace period before the ordinance takes effect.

The council is considering another ordinance that would ban smoking in “all public areas and common areas where people congregate.”

Dr. Jonathan Fielding, director and health officer of the Los Angeles County’s Health Department, said, “This ordinance continues Los Angeles’ commitment to protecting the health of our residents and reducing the risk of heart disease, cancer, emphysema and the many other diseases associated with tobacco smoke.”

He added the vast majority of Los Angeles County residents — 85.7 percent — are non-smokers.

A study prepared by the department showed there are about 1 million smokers countywide and about 435,000 in the city. The same study estimated that tobacco-related diseases cost the county 4.3 billion dollars a year.

Tobacco is the No.1 preventable cause of death and disease in California, and that more than 60,000 Americans exposed to second- hand smoke die each year, according to the American Lung Association.