Smoke-Free Housing
Smoke-Free Housing
- In a smoke-free building, smoking is not allowed anywhere inside the building and is sometimes not allowed in outdoor areas.
- A smoke-free policy helps residents stay healthy by reducing secondhand smoke and building owners save money by reducing cleaning costs.
- In NYC, it is illegal to smoke in common areas in multi-unit buildings, and as of August 2018, multi-unit buildings must also have a policy on smoking. To learn more about smoke-free laws, visit nyc.gov/health and search smoking laws.
Secondhand Smoke
- When someone exhales smoke from a tobacco product, another person can breathe in the smoke. This is called secondhand smoke.
- Secondhand smoke increases the risk of asthma attacks, respiratory illnesses, stroke, heart disease and lung cancer in nonsmoking adults and children.
In New York City, 1 in 3 adult nonsmokers are exposed to secondhand smoke.1
- Secondhand smoke can travel through cracks, ventilation systems and windows. An apartment can’t be fully smoke-free if the building isn’t.
1
“Exposure to Secondhand Smoke Among Nonsmokers in New York City in the Context of Recent Tobacco Control Policies: Current Status, Changes Over the Past Decade, and National Comparisons,” https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntw135 Going Smoke-Free
- Before requesting a smoke-free policy, write down when and where smoke enters your apartment. Include any effects secondhand smoke has on your health, especially if you have a disability, such as emphysema or lung cancer.
- Ask your landlord or building manager:
To create a smoke-free
policy for your building
To fill cracks or
gaps between apartments
For another apartment
further from the source of
the secondhand smoke
Visit nyc.gov/health and search smoke-free housing for more information on how to go smoke-free.
Tips to Quit Smoking
Quitting smoking is one way to protect loved ones and neighbors from secondhand smoke, and to create a smoke-free environment. It can be hard to quit, but these tips can make quitting easier:
- Decide why you want to quit.
- Get support and encouragement: 1-866-NY-QUITS can help.
- Prepare to quit: rid your home of lighters and throw out cigarettes.
- Pick a quit date.
For more tips, visit nyc.gov/health and search NYC Quits.