Smoke-free spaces
Exposure to outdoor smoke is harmful to your health.
Smoke-free spaces and policies protect everyone from second-hand smoke.
Creating smoke-free spaces where you live, work, and play makes sense for everyone.
We can provide you with information about laws, policies, effects of second-hand smoke, cessation programs, and support to create smoke-free spaces.
Why create a smoke-free policy?
Research indicates that outdoor levels of tobacco smoke within one to two metres of a lit cigarette can be as high as smoking indoors, and that by-products of smoking are potentially harmful.
Tobacco-free and smoke-free spaces are supported through policies and by-laws, which are needed to:
- protect people from second-hand smoke
- protect from social exposure to tobacco products
- denormalize smoking and limit social smoking cues
- prevent smoking initiation, especially with youth
- support cessation attempts, and prevent relapse for those who have already quit
- promote healthy choices and provide healthier environments
- reflect an institution’s (hospital, workplace, corporation, business) health mission
- demonstrate leadership in health promotion in the community
Laws and regulations that may affect your policy
Tobacco Enforcement Officers (TEOs) at Public Health Sudbury & Districts enforce the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017.
The Tobacco Act (Health Canada) applies to federal jurisdictions in Canada, and deals with regulations such as tobacco product manufacturing, packaging, retailing and display.
Want help? Need to know more?
For more information and help on creating smoke-free spaces, call our Tobacco Information Line at 705.522.3433 (toll-free 1.866.522.3433) or see the links below.
Additional information
- Information for smoke-free social housing, apartments and condos (Smoke-free housing)
- Play, Live, Be Tobacco-free: Guide for tobacco-free sports and recreation (Play Live Be Tobacco-Free)
- Smoke-free outdoor public spaces: A community advocacy toolkit (Physicians for Smoke-Free Canada)
- How the Smoke-free Ontario Act affects employees and employers (Ministry of Health and Long Term Care)
- Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 How the Act Affects: Enclosed Workplaces (Ministry of Health)
- Tobacco free campus (Leave the Pack Behind)
- Support for hospitals and institutions with smoke-free policies (Non-Smokers’ Rights Association)
- Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 How the Act Affects: Hospitals and Hospital Properties (Ministry of Health)
- Make your home and car smoke-free: A guide to protecting your family from second-hand smoke (Health Canada)
- Smoke-free homes (Lung Association)
Check Before You Go! Inspection and enforcement information
For inspection and enforcement information, visit Check Before You Go! or contact us at 705.522.9200 (toll-free 1.866.522.9200. Check Before You Go! has information about required and follow-up inspections, infractions, convictions, as well as orders imposed by Public Health Sudbury & Districts.
You can find information related to:
- food premises
- licensed child care settings
- personal services settings
- public beaches
- public pools, spas, and splash pads
- recreational camps
- small drinking water systems
- tobacco and electronic cigarette vendors
This item was last modified on December 11, 2019