EL CAJON, Calif. -- Smoking will be prohibited in most public spaces in El Cajon under a law codified by the City Council Tuesday.

The City Council passed the ordinance unanimously on first reading late last month. A second reading was required for the law to take effect, and another unanimous vote was taken late Tuesday.

The ordinance will take effect Sept. 14, but there will be a six-month grace period before fines are issued, said city spokeswoman Monica Zech.

City officials said the law is needed to protect the public from second-hand smoke.

"It's a health issue," Zech said. "It is not taking away rights."

But opponents said the rule was discriminatory.

Eric Craig, a non-smoker, told a local TV station he doesn't think "people ought to be able to smoke indoors where I have to breathe it. But outdoors in the open air, people have to be able to smoke somewhere. Otherwise they ought to outlaw smoking altogether."

El Cajon has led the charge against smoking in San Diego County, becoming the first city to outlaw smoking in parks and also requiring businesses that sell tobacco to get a city license.

Under the ordinance, smoking on a city sidewalk will be forbidden. Smoking outside office buildings, however, will be permitted, as long as smokers are in a designated area away from non-smokers.

According to Zech, La Mesa is considering a similar ban.