What can you do if smoke comes into your unit?

If your building has a no-smoking policy:

  • Ask your building manager to make sure the rules are followed/enforced
  • Ask for "No Smoking" signs to be posted where everyone can see them

If smoking is allowed in your building, you can:

  • Consider talking to the person smoking; ask politely if he or she would smoke outside away from the building
  • Ask your building manager about making your building smoke-free

Building owners have the right to make their building smoke-free. Many state and local governments have resources to help owners or managers make their building smoke-free. Units can also be made nonsmoking as they become vacant or when the lease is renewed.

A smoke free policy can:

  • Protect health
  • Reduce the risk of fire
  • Lower upkeep and cleaning costs
  • Reduce insurance rates

Talk with your neighbors:

  • Ask if smoke is getting into other homes too - ask if they have health problems made worse by secondhand smoke
  • Ask them to help you make where you live smoke-free
  • Together, have a meeting with your building owner or manager
  • The more people who ask for a change, the more likely it will happen

Show All Answers

1. What can you do if smoke comes into your unit?
2. What is thirdhand smoke?
3. Is thirdhand smoke harmful?
4. Where can thirdhand smoke be found?