Breathe Easy

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is considered a smoke-free dwelling or apartment?

A: A smoke-free apartment is one where smoking is not permitted in the unit and adjacent units sharing the same common air handling or HVAC system. This assures that cigarette smoke won’t drift from one unit to another.

Q: Is it illegal for a landlord or owner to designate units smoke-free?

A: It is completely legal to designate rental units as smoke-free.

Q: What is the US Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) position regarding smoke-free dwellings?

A: In July 2009, HUD issued PIH-2009- 21, and in May 2012, issued PIH-2012-25, which strongly encourage apartment communities to adopt smoke-free housing policies. On September 15, 2010, the Assistant Secretary for Housing issued Notice H 2010-21 to encourage owners and management agents in HUD’s Multifamily Housing rental assistance programs to implement smoke-free housing policies

Q: Don’t individuals have a “right” to smoke in their homes if they choose?

A: There is no legal right to smoke. Smokers are not a protected class under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 or other federal law.

Q: Why aren’t all apartment communities smoke-free?

A: Currently, there’s no federal law requiring multifamily housing to be smoke-free.

Q: Why is there such concern about secondhand smoke in workplaces, public places and living spaces?

A: There are several reasons:

• According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 50,000 deaths occur annually in the United States as a result of secondhand smoke-related illnesses, including from heart disease, asthma, lung cancer and other respiratory ailments.
• It is a Group A carcinogen – a substance known to cause cancer in humans for which there is no safe level of exposure.
• Increased illnesses in children have also been linked to second-hand smoke.
• According to the American Association of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), the only means of effectively eliminating health risks associated with indoor exposure to tobacco smoke is to ban smoking activity.

Additional Information About the Benefits of Living in Smoke-free Communities

• Tobacco Use & Secondhand Smoke Exposure in Multiunit Housing: https://i0.wp.com/www.healthylucascounty.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/07/CDC-smoking-in-multi-unit-housing.jpg
• Damage from Cigarette Smoke Residue: http://mnsmokefreehousing.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/%E2%80%9CDamage-from-Cigarette-Smoke-Reside%E2%80%9D.pdf
• The Dangers of Smoking in Multi-Unit Housing: http://mnsmokefreehousing.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Up-in-Flames.pdf
• The Benefits of Smoke-free Buildings: Why a Smoke-free Policy is a Good Decision for Multiunit Housing Providers (for internal use only):
  • Web page – https://no-smoke.org/benefits-of-smokefree-buildings-fact-sheet/
  • PDF – https://no-smoke.org/wp-content/uploads/pdf/benefits-of-smokefree-buildings.pdf

Assistance for Smokers Looking to Quit

Mobile App
Download the Free Quit Guide Mobile App! Mobile App Available for iOS and Android devices

PRINTABLE GUIDES

• Tips to Quit Smoking: https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/quit-smoking/mobile-quit-guide/index.html?s_cid=OSH_tips_D9319

• Benefits of Smoking Cessation Fact Sheet: Desktop > Content Projects > Breathe Easy

PHONE SUPPORT & QUITLINES

• American Cancer Society (214) 819-1200
• Quit Line (877) YES-QUIT
• National Information Line (800) 117-2345
• American Lung Association (214) 631-5864
• Nicotine Anonymous (214) 327-1633
• The North American Quitline Consortium is a network of toll-free hotlines and websites. (Find your state quitline and resources at http://map.naquitline.org/ )

US Residents

• English: 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) or www.smokefree.gov
• Spanish: 1-855-DEJELO-YA (1-855-335-3569) or espanol.smokefree.gov
• Chinese: 1-800-838-8917 or www.asiansmokersquitline.org
• Korean: 1-800-556-5564 or www.asiansmokersquitline.org
• Vietnamese: 1-800-778-8440 or www.asiansmokersquitline.org
• Veterans: 1-855-QUIT VET (1-855-784-8838) or www.publichealth.va.gov/smoking
• TTY: 1-800-332-8615

Canada Residents

• English: 1-866-366-3667 or www.gosmokefree.gc.ca/quit
• French: 1-866 JARRETE (1-866-527-7383) or www.vivezsansfumee.gc.ca/abandon

ONLINE INFORMATION AND SUPPORT

• ACS College Quit Blog www.quitnowblog.org
• Action on Smoking and Health www.ash.org
• American Cancer Society www.cancer.org
• American Heart Association  www.americanheart.com
• American Lung Association www.lungusa.org
• Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids www.tobaccofreekids.com
• Canada.ca Quit Smoking www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/smoking-tobacco/quit-smoking/tips-help-someone-quit-smoking/you-can-quit-smoking-we-can-help.html
• Canadian Cancer Society https://www.cancer.ca/en/support-and-services/support-services/quit-smoking/?region=on
• Center for Disease Control www.cdc.gov/tobacco
• National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/
• Office on Smoking and Health  www.cdc.gov/tobacco/about/osh/index.htms
• Smokefree.gov www.smokefree.gov
• Smoking Cessation Leadership Center http://smokingcessationleadership.ucsf.edu
• The QuitNet http://quitnet.org
• The Surgeon General www.surgeongeneral.gov
• Youth Tobacco Awareness Program www.worthit.org