Smokers will have to butt out near building entrances, public squares, beaches and sports fields under a new bylaw passed Wednesday by Toronto city council.

The bylaw stopped short of banning smoking on restaurant and bar patios but the provincial government announced Wednesday it will pass legislation to that effect.

Violators face a $300 fine but the city expects compliance will be high and inspectors will only have to respond to complaints.

Councillor Joe Mihevc, chair of the board of health, said the latest rules capture some of the last places where people could smoke. It’s been a decades-long process of curbing the habit that began with prohibiting smoking in hospitals.

“Between this city of Toronto piece today and the provincial piece — when they put that together — smoking will be prohibited everywhere it impacts on others,” Mihevc said.

“Basically, smoking becomes a private activity that you do in the privacy of your home, the privacy of your backyard.”

The city’s bylaw prohibits smoking within nine metres of public building entrances and within nine metres of a sports field or parks amenity such as a skateboard park, ski hill, outdoor swimming pool or Toronto Island Ferry dock.

“As a parent and a mother who used to spend a lot of time on soccer fields, I’m thrilled we’re going to restrict where parents who are watching these sports can smoke,” said Councillor Sarah Doucette.

“When you’ve got parents standing on the side of a field smoking, it doesn’t set a very good example for our youth,” Doucette said.

Next up is figuring out how to encourage smokers to stop tossing butts on the ground, said Councillor Mary Margaret McMahon.

Council was told that toxin-laden butts can be harmful to dogs and cats and that the material, which includes a plastic-based filter, has been known to be ingested by birds and fish.

The city’s medical officer of health and manager of solid waste are to report next month on a strategy to fight cigarette butt litter.