Smoking Regulations and Businesses

Smoking regulations in Sonoma County promote a healthy, smoke -free environment and eliminate the unwanted exposure to hazardous secondhand smoke in public places.

Laws regulating smoking are largely self-enforcing. Reports from cities and counties, including those in Sonoma County, show proper signage and public education are effective in implementing smoke-free ordinances. To comply with the new ordinance:

Posting signage is required.

Clearly, sufficiently and conspicuously post "No smoking" signs or the international "no smoking" symbol (consisting of a pictorial representation of a burning cigarette enclosed in a red circle with a red bar across it) in every building, including points of ingress, where smoking is prohibited.

For multi-unit residences: clearly, sufficiently and conspicuously post and maintain "No smoking" signs or the international "no smoking" symbol (consisting of a pictorial representation of a burning cigarette enclosed in a red circle with a red bar across it) at every building and unenclosed area where smoking is prohibited. You do not need to post signs on individual units.

Do not knowingly permit smoking in those places where smoking is prohibited.

A person who owns, manages, operates, or otherwise controls the use of any place where smoking is prohibited knowingly or intentionally acts if he or she has not taken the following actions to prevent smoking by another person: (1) requested that a person who is smoking refrain from smoking; and (2) requested that a person who is smoking leave the place if the person refuses to stop smoking after being asked to stop. This does not require physically ejecting a person from a place or taking steps to prevent smoking under circumstances that would involve risk of physical harm. Any owner, manager, operator or employer of any establishments covered in the ordinance has the responsibility to inform any apparent violator about any smoking restrictions on the premises.

Do not knowingly permit the presence of ash trays, ash cans, or other receptacles designed for or primarily used for disposal of smoking waste within non-smoking areas.

To find out if the county tobacco retail license ordinance applies to your business, use the link below to enter your business address in the form.

Which Ordinance Applies to My Business?

FAQ for Businesses (PDF: 55 Kb)
Source: Sonoma County Department of Health Services.

Smoke and Money: An employer's toolkit for smokefree workplaces and tobacco cessation assistance  (PDF: 2.1 Mb)
Source: Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

Smoke-free Laws Do Not Harm Business at Restaurants and Bars (PDF: 224 Kb)
Source: Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

Sonoma County No -Smoking Ordinance Implementation Guide (PDF: 38  Kb)
Source: Sonoma County Department of Health Services.