California City Says To Some Residents-You Can’t Smoke in Your Own Homes

In a unanimous decision, members of the San Rafael City Council have approved the strictest anti smoking ordinance in the country. Effective last week, the bill bans residents of apartments, condos, duplexes, and multi-family houses from smoking cigarettes and “tobacco products” inside their homes.

Assembly Member Marc Levine says the ordinance applies to owners and renters in all buildings that house wall-sharing units for three or more families. The purpose is to prevent second-hand smoke from travelling through doors, windows, floorboards, crawl spaces, or ventilation systems (i.e. any conceivable opening) into neighboring units.

Levine said the bill is motivated by his desire to ensure that "Californians [can] breathe clean air in their own homes." He continued, "In apartments or condominiums, whenever a neighbor lights up, everyone in the building smokes with them."

The ordinance was passed in October 2012, but did not go into effect until November 14, 2013.