County Bans Smoking in All Multi-Unit Residences

Sonoma County, North California, banned all smoking in multi-unit residences. This includes not only common property (hallways, parkades, grounds, common rooms and laundries, and more) but private units as well.

It will be phased in over 16 months – with common areas falling under the smoking ban in 180 days, new units a bit later, and then already built private units on 12 January 2013.

I’m a committed non-smoker, but I still find this kind of blanket smoking ban on private residences heavy handed and intrusive. I’ve commented before (here and here) that this is something that should be done at the condominium or HOA level, but not at the municipal level. And even then I’ve been hesitant to support this at all.

It’s rhetorical and silly but I add “should they look at banning ethnic food or outdoor bbqs” – specifically where bbq smoke has been identified as carcinogenetic, and I’ve been well known to whip up a whole kick-ass cloud of that fatty black soot for my neighbours to inhale.

The ruling is good news for the 85% of non-smokers (according to Sonoma County), but I can not wonder if this action is too much an intrusion, and if exemptions can be granted for medial smoking (which is not indicated in the motion).

Adding Flames to Condominiums Banning Smoking Anywhere

There is a small (small) percentage of condominiums that are moving towards completely smoke free for their owner units. Not just content to ban smoking in the common property, they have enacted by-laws that prevent smoking anywhere in the complex.

There are a variety of reasons for this – buildings that are old or improperly sealed between units will leak second-hand smoke between units (I once lived in a rental condo where my unit acted as a chimney for the unit directly below). Wood structure complexes have started doing it for fire and insurance reasons. Some just do it to promote a healthy community.

I’m not all that excited about banning smoking in titled spaces (units). I think there should be opportunity for owners to have some control over their private spaces (for the record I’m a non-smoker). It would be too easy for a condo to move from banning smoking to banning ethnic foods in my mind. There is a level where protection in many issues become ethnic division – indeed, if everybody was exactly like you we would never have strife!

Anyways, there’s been another fire caused by cigarettes left improperly disposed of. In this case most of the fire damage was limited to the originating unit, but the unit below (that’s always the case) suffered significant water damage (and some minimal fire damage).

That will add heat to the debate for condominiums looking to ban smoking in owner residence as well.

Discarded cigarettes cause Millcreek condo fire – Salt Lake Tribune
Cigarettes spark Millcreek condo fire, officials say -Desert News