Secondhand smoke comes from both the lit end of burning tobacco/marijuana products and smoke exhaled by a smoker. Aerosol, another type of secondhand exposure, is what someone inhales and exhales when using a vape or an electronic smoking device.

Secondhand smoke can move from one home into another when a resident smokes in their home, on a patio, on a balcony, or in an outdoor courtyard. Secondhand smoke can travel through doors, windows, hallways, plumbing, electrical systems, cabinets, closets, ceiling fans, fireplaces, and ventilation systems.

Secondhand Smoke is a Health Hazard:

• Classified as a carcinogen by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• Identified as a toxic air contaminant by the California Air Resources Board
• Contains hundreds of toxic chemicals
• United States Surgeon General has concluded there is no risk-free level of exposure

Thirdhand smoke is the residue left behind when someone smokes indoors. Small particles from secondhand smoke can stick to furniture, curtains, walls, and floors, as well as to a person’s hair, skin, and clothing. These particles can linger on surfaces for months and build up a residue over time.  This residue then re-emits toxins into the air inside the home.

Thirdhand Smoke is a Health Hazard:

• Chemicals from thirdhand smoke change over time and release new pollutants
• Long-term exposure can damage human cells and DNA
• Associated with short- and long-term health problems such as asthma and increased cancer risk
• Common cleaning methods will not remove thirdhand smoke

Secondhand smoke can increase risk of:

• Asthma in both children and adults
• Respiratory problems
• Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
• Lung cancer
• Deaths from fires

The Los Angeles County Tobacco Control and Prevention Program can send a letter to your housing management company/owner, indicating that there has been a complaint from a tenant about exposure to secondhand smoke in their home environment. Call (213) 351-7890 or email [email protected].

• Try to reach an agreement with your neighbor to limit where and when they smoke.
• Ask your landlord or property manager to make certain areas or all areas of the building smoke-free.
• Get involved with local coalitions in your area that are working to reduce secondhand smoke in home environments.
• Find out if your city has a smoke-free housing policy. Contact your city’s Code Enforcement office.

Currently, 17 cities in LA County have adopted an ordinance that prohibits smoking in multi-unit housing:

Baldwin Park 

Bell Gardens 

Beverly Hills 

Burbank 

Calabasas 

Carson 

Compton 

Culver City 

El Monte 

Glendale 

Huntington Park 

Manhattan Beach 

Pasadena 

Santa Monica 

South Pasadena 

Temple City 

West Hollywood 

If your city doesn’t have a smoke-free housing policy, your landlord may choose to adopt a smoke-free building policy that prohibits smoking/vaping tobacco and marijuana.

You may contact your local City or the Los Angeles County Tobacco Control and Prevention Program at (213) 351-7890 or email [email protected].

For more information on legal options and services, visit the Public Health Law Center: Smoke-free Housing | Public Health Law Center

If your city doesn’t have a smoke-free housing policy, your landlord may choose to adopt a smoke-free building policy prohibiting smoking/vaping tobacco and marijuana in your building.

Before moving into the unit, ask the landlord or property manager:

• Whether smoking is permitted
• Whether it is specified in the lease agreement that it is a smoke-free building
• If there is a smoke-free building policy, whether there is a designated smoking area and whether the smoke-free building policy applies to 100% of the building, within all units, indoor common areas, and outdoor common areas
• If there is a smoke-free-building policy, how smoking complaints will be addressed

You may contact your local City or the Los Angeles County Tobacco Control and Prevention Program at (213) 351-7890 or email [email protected] to learn more about smoke-free properties and city policies.

For more information on legal options and services, visit the Public Health Law Center: Smoke-free Housing | Public Health Law Center

If your city has a smoke-free housing policy, it applies to marijuana unless you live in West Hollywood, which has an exemption.

If you are exposed to marijuana smoke, contact the building’s owner or management company. You can also contact the County Office of Marijuana Management at [email protected] or contact your city.

Most city policies do not cover single family homes. However, all Public Housing Authorities in LA County have no-smoking policies for their properties.

California Civil Code §1947.5 authorizes landlords of multi-unit housing complexes to prohibit smoking on their properties. Typically, properties with two or more dwellings are considered multi-unit housing, including apartment buildings, condominium complexes, townhomes, senior and assisted living facilities, and long-term health care facilities.

Secondhand smoke comes from both the lit end of burning tobacco/marijuana products and smoke exhaled by a smoker. Aerosol, another type of secondhand exposure, is what someone inhales and exhales when using a vape or an electronic smoking device.

Secondhand smoke can move from one home into another when a resident smokes in their home, on a patio, on a balcony, or in an outdoor courtyard. Secondhand smoke can travel through doors, windows, hallways, plumbing, electrical systems, cabinets, closets, ceiling fans, fireplaces, and ventilation systems.

Secondhand Smoke is a Health Hazard:

• Classified as a carcinogen by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• Identified as a toxic air contaminant by the California Air Resources Board
• Contains hundreds of toxic chemicals
• United States Surgeon General has concluded there is no risk-free level of exposure

Thirdhand smoke is the residue left behind when someone smokes indoors. Small particles from secondhand smoke can stick to furniture, curtains, walls, and floors, as well as to a person’s hair, skin, and clothing. These particles can linger on surfaces for months and build up a residue over time.  This residue then re-emits toxins into the air inside the home.

Thirdhand Smoke is a Health Hazard:

• Chemicals from thirdhand smoke change over time and release new pollutants
• Long-term exposure can damage human cells and DNA
• Associated with short- and long-term health problems such as asthma and increased cancer risk
• Common cleaning methods will not remove thirdhand smoke

Secondhand smoke can increase risk of:

• Home fires
• Asthma in both children and adults
• Respiratory problems
• Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
• Lung cancer

Currently, 17 cities in LA County have adopted an ordinance that prohibits smoking in multi-unit housing:

Baldwin Park 

Bell Gardens 

Beverly Hills 

Burbank 

Calabasas 

Carson 

Compton 

Culver City 

El Monte 

Glendale 

Huntington Park 

Manhattan Beach 

Pasadena 

Santa Monica 

South Pasadena 

Temple City 

West Hollywood 

If your city doesn’t have a smoke-free housing policy, you may choose to adopt a smoke-free building policy that prohibits smoking/vaping tobacco and marijuana in your building.

You may contact your local City or the Los Angeles County Tobacco Control and Prevention Program at (213) 351-7890 or email [email protected].

For more information on legal options and services, visit the Public Health Law Center: Smoke-free Housing | Public Health Law Center

If your city has a smoke-free housing policy, it applies to marijuana unless your building is in West Hollywood, which has an exemption.

Most city policies do not cover single family homes. However, all Public Housing Authorities in LA County have no-smoking policies for their properties.

California Civil Code §1947.5 authorizes landlords of multi-unit housing complexes to prohibit smoking on their properties. Typically, properties with two or more dwellings are considered multi-unit housing, including apartment buildings, condominium complexes, townhomes, senior and assisted living facilities, and long-term health care facilities.

If you’re a landlord or represent a property management company and want to learn more about smoke-free policies or you are interested in adopting a voluntary smoke-free policy, contact the Los Angeles County Tobacco Control and Prevention Program at (213) 351-7890 or [email protected].