Provincial Smoke-Free Legislation

Effective March 31, 2008, BC now has province-wide smoke-free legislation in all indoor public places and workplaces, with no allowances for Designated Smoking Rooms (DSRs) in restaurants and bars. BC will finally have consistent legislation that applies equally across the province to protect all workers and the public from hazards of second-hand smoke.

Specifically, as of March 31 2008, people will no longer be permitted to smoke:

• In all indoor public and work places (designated smoking rooms are now prohibited)
• Within 3 metres of public entranceways to buildings, windows and air intakes
• In transit shelters, taxis and work vehicles
• In common areas of apartment buildings, condominiums and dormitories. This includes elevators, hallways, parking garages, party or entertainment rooms, laundry facilities, lobbies and exercise areas, or in the buffer zones around public or work space buffer zones.

The new provincial legislation also bans the sale of tobacco products:

• In hospitals and other health care facilities
• On public post-secondary institutions
• In/on any property owned or leased by the provincial government or provincial crown agency
• In/on any property owned or leased by a local government and used for recreational purposes, such as community recreation centres

Enforcement of Provincial Smoke-Free Legislation

If you want to make a complaint, contact the person in charge of the business or organization. If no action is taken, contact your local health authority, and ask for someone in the tobacco control area.

Where municipal bylaws are more stringent than the provincial legislation, like the City of Vancouver, the unresolved complaints will be made to the municipal bylaw enforcement agency.

For more information, please visit http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/tobctrl/tcrc_pg6.html

Municipal Bylaws

In addition to the Provincial smoke-free legislation, municipalities and regional governments have the authority to pass smoke-free Bylaws that are stronger than provincial legislation. There are a number of municipalities that have taken a leadership role to protect their residents by implementing stronger smoke-free bylaws that exceed the new provincial smoke-free Regulations by banning smoking on patios, including the Capital Regional District, and the City of Vancouver. Further, many other municipalities in BC are considering adopting bylaws that are stricter than provincial legislation, such as banning smoking on patios. Contact your municipality to find out if smoking will be banned on your restaurant and bar patios in the near future.

City of Vancouver Smoke-Free Bylaw

In addition to the provincial legislation, the City of Vancouver, on the recommendation of Vancouver Coastal Health, has put more stringent health bylaws into effect.

Effective March 31, 2008, smoking is prohibited:

• Within 6 metres of an entryway, openable window or air intake of a building
• Within "customer service areas" (i.e. open patios) of food and/or liquor establishments
• Within 6 metres of the perimeter of a customer service area (including patio)
• Signage is required to be posted indicating the applicable smoking restrictions

For more information please visit http://www.vch.ca/environmental/tobacco/bylaws/vancouver.htm

For unresolved complaints, call the City of Vancouver Property Use at 604.873.7398

Capital Regional District Smoke-Free Bylaw

Go to the following Link for information on the CRD Smoke-Free Bylaw: http://www.viha.ca/mho/tobacco/clean_air_bylaw.htm

Smoke-Free Signage

To download official 'No Smoking' Signage, as approved by the BC Government and City of Vancouver, to help you comply with new BC Tobacco Laws, go to: http://www.bc.lung.ca/smoking_and_tobacco/newlaws.html.

Important Links

Compendium of 100% Smoke-free Municipal Bylaws, August 2006
Non-Smokers Rights Association

The Duty to Protect: Eliminating Second-Hand Smoke from Public Places and Workplaces in Ontario, February 2003
Ontario Medical Association