Smoke Free Arizona
The Basics
Let's Clear the Air
In November of 2006 the citizens of Arizona made their voices heard by passing the Smoke-Free Arizona Act A.R.S. §36-601.01. This landmark statute prohibits smoking in most enclosed public places and places of employment including (but not limited to):
- Restaurants, bars, grocery stores, or any establishment that serves food
- Office buildings and work areas such as meeting rooms, employee lounges, classrooms, and private offices
- Health care facilities, hospitals, health care clinics, and doctor’s offices
- Company-owned or employer-owned vehicles during working hours if the vehicle is occupied by more than one person
- Enclosed common areas in hotels and motels
- Lobbies, elevators, restrooms, reception areas, halls, stairways, and any other enclosed common-use areas in public and private buildings including condominiums and other multiple-unit residential facilities
- Any place of employment not exempted. Click here to view exemptions.
- Tribes are Sovereign Nations. The Smoke-Free Arizona Act has no application on Indian reservations as defined in A.R.S. §42-3301 (2).
Newsletters
In a continued effort to disseminate information about the Smoke-Free Arizona Act, the Smoke-Free Arizona Newsletter was created. The newsletter was designed to address some of the provisions of the Act and answer some of the most common questions about the Act. Each of our newsletters has been distributed electronically to nearly 12,000 recipients statewide.
View the most recent newsletter.
New mySmokeFreeAZ Mobile Phone Application
The Smoke-Free Arizona Program now has a free phone application for submitting complaints about businesses in violation of the Smoke-Free Arizona Act. The mySmokeFreeAZ app can be downloaded for iPhone and Android.
Smoke-Free Arizona Timeline
To view a timeline highlighting the history of the Smoke-Free Arizona Act, please click on the image or link below.
Click here to view Smoke-Free Arizona Timeline
2014 Annual Report
We are proud to say that Arizona continues to be a leader in protecting the health of its citizens. Compliance with the Smoke-Free Arizona Act is continuing to increase throughout the State. In addition, many business proprietors have made steps to go above and beyond the Act to accommodate their employees and customers; thus resulting in cleaner air for Arizonans.
Click here to view the annual report.
Click here to view previous annual report(s).
Economic Impact Study
The report examining the economic impact of the Smoke-Free Arizona Act is available here. The study, prepared by the W.P. Carey School of Business, Arizona State University, includes the analysis of actual sales data for restaurants and bars, and the results of a survey of owners and managers of restaurants and bars in Arizona that was conducted prior the implementation of the Act and repeated one year later. The report also includes a literature review on the effects of tobacco regulations on the hospitality industry in the United States and in other countries. Click here to view the entire report.
What About Local Ordinances?
The Smoke-Free Arizona Act does not prevent a political subdivision of the State from adopting ordinances or regulations that are more restrictive than the Act, nor does the Act repeal any existing ordinance or regulation that is more restrictive than the Act.
What This Website Offers
This site explains the Smoke-Free Arizona Act and what Arizona businesses need to do to comply with the Law. It also lays out the procedure for reporting any employer that is in violation.
You will also find useful information on the dangers of secondhand smoke, news and publications, tips, updates, answers to frequently asked questions about the Law, links to valuable resources, and much more.
AZDHS
- When did the smoke free provisions take effect? The Law became effective on May 1, 2007.
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Where can I find a copy of the Law and the rules?
Click here to view the contents of the Law.
Click here to view the contents of the rules. - What does the Smoke-Free Arizona Act require? It requires smoking to be prohibited in most enclosed public places and places of employment and within 20 feet of the establishment's entrances, open windows and ventilation systems. However, there are a few exemptions to the Smoke-Free Arizona Act.
- What are examples of public places and places of employment affected by the Law? The Smoke-Free Arizona Act prohibits smoking in most enclosed public places and places of employment including but not limited to: bars, restaurants, workplaces, stadiums, reception areas, theatres, and designated non-smoking hotel rooms.
- What are the exemptions of the Law? There are specific public places where smoking will be allowed, including private residences, retail tobacco stores, veterans and fraternal clubs, and outdoor patios. For a complete list of exemptions of the Law click here.
- At what distance from an entrance is outside smoking allowed? Smoking is prohibited within 20 feet from all establishment entrances, open windows, or ventilation systems. In addition, tobacco smoke should not infiltrate into non-smoking areas. Click here to view the 20 foot rule.
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Where can I find more information?
Please contact the Arizona Department of Health Services by calling toll-free at 1-877-AZSTOPS (1-877-297-8677). For Frequently Asked Questions for Businesses and Veterans Clubs click here.
To view the rules click here.
