Smoke-Free Apartments and Condominiums

On this page:

• Smoke-Free Apartments are Legal
• Smoke-Free Apartments in Las Vegas
• Advantages of Smoke-Free Apartment Buildings for Owners and Managers
• Related Links

Secondhand smoke is the third leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Approximately 70,000 people die annually from the diseases caused by secondhand smoke.

Multi-housing developments present a particular challenge for dealing with this significant health problem. Tobacco smoke from one unit may seep through cracks, be circulated by shared ventilation systems or otherwise enter the living space of another tenant (Americans for Nonsmoker's Rights).

Smoke-Free Apartments are Legal

Yes, smoke-free apartments are legal. Owners of apartment buildings and condominium associations may choose to adopt a policy which requires all or part of a building to be smoke-free, including individual apartments and condos.

There is no law which prohibits designating areas or individual apartment homes as smoke-free (NRS 202, 118, and 207). People who smoke are not protected by state or federal anti-discrimination laws, nor are they considered disabled under state or federal disability rights laws (Drifting Tobacco Smoke, Information for Tenants of Apartments and Condominiums, Task Force for Smoke-free Housing, CA).

Smoke-Free Apartments in Las Vegas

The Griswold Real Estate Management has two properties with smoke-free living:

The Picerne Real Estate Group has three properties with smoke-free living:

The tenants response has been very positive. If you own/manage or know of a smoke-free building, please email us at TobaccoProgram@snhdmail.org.

Advantages of Smoke-Free Apartment Buildings for Owners and Managers.

• Save on maintenance costs
  • Secondhand smoke covers walls, ventilation systems, and other exposed surfaces with a dirty, yellow residue
  • In some rooms which have been smoked in, it is almost impossible to remove the smell of the tobacco smoke
• Attract and retain tenants.
  • Most individuals and families will appreciate apartment buildings in which smoking is permitted only in designated outdoor areas
• Reduce cigarette butt litter
• Reduce fire danger
  • In a recent year, cigarettes were found to have caused over 1,400 fires in California homes, apartments, and mobile homes with an estimated $18 million loss in property and contents (Drifting Tobacco Smoke, Information for Tenants of Apartments and Condominiums, Task Force for Smoke-free Housing, CA)
  • Locally, in 2003, an apartment complex in Green Valley suffered $50,000 in damage from a cigarette being placed in a trash can (Las Vegas Review Journal, April 15, 2003)
• Insurance rates may decrease

For more information on smoke-free apartments and condominiums, visit the Smoke-Free Apartments website.

Related Links

• Southern Nevada Multi-Housing Association
• Model Policy: How to make your apartment smoke-free
• Secondhand smoke in apartments and condominiums: A guide for owners and managers
• The smoker next door: Handling unwanted tobacco smoke in apartments and condominiums
• S.A.F.E. smoke-free air for everyone
• Smoke-free Apartment House Registry
• Kids Involuntarily Inhaling Secondhand Smoke
• California smoke-free bars

Contact Us

If you own/manage smoke-free apartment homes and would like to be included in the Smoke-free Apartment House Registry or have any questions or comments, please contact the Tobacco Control Program at 759-1270 or email us at TobaccoProgram@snhdmail.org.

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