Second-Hand Smoke, Smoke-Free Spaces and the Law

There is NO Safe Level of Second-Hand Smoke.

Second-hand smoke affects the health of everyone, especially children and the elderly. Second-hand smoke can worsen the health of those with asthma, allergies and other respiratory conditions and is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

Ready to Reduce Your Tobacco Use or Quit Altogether?

Hospitals provide a supportive smoke-free environment while offering support to patients and staff who want to quit smoking.
Community supports are available at myquit.ca or call 1-877-376-1701

Second-Hand Smoke Facts

Second-hand smoke (SHS) is the smoke exhaled by a smoker as well as the smoke from the burning tobacco. It contains more than 4,000 dangerous chemicals, 70 of which cause cancer.

There is no safe level of exposure, even outdoors. Exposure to second-hand smoke (SHS) can be as dangerous on restaurant patios, the beach or park as it is indoors. Cigarette butts can also contaminate sandboxes and beaches.

Studies show that smoke-free spaces can dramatically reduce heart attack rates and respiratory illnesses. Smoke-free spaces can:

• protect non-smokers from the harmful effects of SHS
• help smokers to quit
• encourage former smokers to remain smoke-free
• protect children from starting to smoke by providing good role models
• reduce litter

The Smoke-Free Ontario Act prohibits smoking in common areas of condominiums, apartment buildings and college and university residences. Examples of common areas include elevators, stairwells, hallways, parking garages, laundry facilities, lobbies, exercise areas and party or entertainment rooms.

Second-hand smoke can easily transfer between units and can expose you to harmful second-hand smoke in your home. To learn how you can protect yourself from second-hand smoke, visit Smoke Free Housing Ontario

Making your business welcoming by keeping it free from second-hand smoke (SHS) shows you care about the health of others and the environment. There is no safe level of SHS-inside or outside.  Even a small amount of SHS can affect health.  Any employee or customer that passes by someone smoking will be exposed to SHS. Ottawa Public Health has developed a guide and signs to help employers protect their employees and customers from SHS at entrances and on outdoor property.

To obtain your free guide and signage, please send an email to tobacco@ottawa.ca.

No smoking and vaping laws and regulations in the City of Ottawa are designed to protect children and non-smokers from the hazards of exposure to second-hand smoke and potential health impact to exposure to vapour.

The smoke-free regulations apply 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Report a smoking violation or by calling 3-1

Request Smoke and Vape-Free Signage

Request tobacco signage

Enclosed workplaces and public places

Image Description Dual No Smoking, No Vaping Sticker For enclosed workplaces and public places 15 x 20 cm Available as a sticker (sticky back) or window decal (sticky front)     Dual No Smoking, No Vaping Outdoor Metal Sign For enclosed workplaces and public place 25 x 30 cm   No smoking sticker For enclosed workplaces and public places 10 x 10 cm   No smoking metal sign for municipal property For City of Ottawa municipal properties only 30 x 45 cm

Tobacco and vapour product vendors

Image Description  Tobacco vendor small sign 2 stickers must be posted at the point of sale: 1 facing the customer 1 facing the clerk For best results, place the sticker on a vertical surface 9 x 18 cm  Tobacco vendor large sign 1 sticker must be posted visible by customer at the point of sale 18 x 35 cm  Vapour product vendor small sign 2 stickers must be posted at the point of sale: 1 facing the customer 1 facing the clerk For best results, place the sticker on a vertical surface 9 x 18 cm Vapour product vendor large sign 1 sticker must be posted visible by customer at the point of sale 18 x 35 cm

Festival and event signage

Image Description   Smoke-free event sign for City of Ottawa property For events and festivals held on City of Ottawa property ONLY 60 x 120 cm   Smoke-free event sign for non-City of Ottawa property For events held on federally owned property or private property only 60 x 120 cm

Voluntary smoke-free entranceway signage

Image Description   Voluntary smoke-free entrance sticker For businesses who want to implement a voluntary smoke-free policy and create a buffer zone at their entrances and exits 12 x 23 cm   Smoke-free policies (bilingual) A bilingual guidebook for businesses who want to implement a voluntary smoke-free policy. Booklet

The Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 (SFOA,2017) regulates the sale, supply, display and promotion of tobacco products and vapour products, as well as the smoking of tobacco, the use of electronic cigarettes, and the smoking of cannabis.

Retailers that sell tobacco and vapour products have a legal responsibility to ensure that they and their employees understand and comply with the requirements under the SFOA, 2017.

This guide is intended for owners and employees of retail businesses that sell tobacco products, tobacco product accessories, and/or vapour products. It is intended to help you understand the requirements of the SFOA, 2017 regarding the sale, supply, display and promotion of tobacco products and vapour products, as well as smoking and vaping restrictions for enclosed workplaces and enclosed public places.

Nothing in this guide should be interpreted as legal advice. In the event of a conflict between any information in this guide and the provisions in the SFOA, 2017 or its regulation, the SFOA, 2017 and regulation apply.

View the Guide for Retailers

Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 Public Disclosure of Tobacco Sales Offences

Disclaimer Regarding Automatic Prohibition

Prospective buyers of tobacco retail dealer premises are strongly encouraged to contact the local Public Health Unit to confirm premises conviction history. A premises with two or more tobacco sales convictions against any owner (past or present) at that address within a five-year period is subject to a Notice of Prohibition Against the Sale, Storage and Delivery of Tobacco Products (known as an automatic prohibition or “AP”).

Section 22 of the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 (SFOA, 2017) states that upon becoming aware that there are two or more convictions against any owner for tobacco sales offences committed at the same place within a five-year period, the Ministry of Health (MOH) shall notify the owner(s) or occupant of the place that the sale, storage, and delivery of tobacco products is prohibited at the place.

The MOH accepts requests from Public Health Units for automatic prohibitions where owner(s) of the business was/were convicted of tobacco sales offences on two occasions within a five year period. The SFOA, 2017 convictions report published on Public Health Units’ websites lists all owner related tobacco sales convictions that are eligible for an automatic prohibition. Please note that automatic prohibitions do not apply to vapour products sales convictions.