After March 31, 2008, your community will be a healthier place to live. There is greater protection from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke. Sale of tobacco and tobacco products is banned in some locations, and youth are not exposed to displays of tobacco and promotion of cigarettes.

The new tobacco laws set a minimum standard that all facilities in your community must meet. Your municipality, health authority, post-secondary institution, or community centre may have more restrictive requirements in place. Check with your local government for more information.

Download the brochure for information on what you should know about BC’s new tobacco laws.

Where are tobacco and tobacco products no longer sold?
Can pharmacies sell tobacco?
Where has smoking been banned?
How are community living facilities affected?
Is smoking banned on outdoor patios of restaurants?
Are there exemptions to the ban on smoking in enclosed or substantially enclosed public or workplaces?
Are legions, casinos, bingo halls or private clubs exempted from the smoking ban?
Where does the “buffer zone” apply?
Are transit shelters smoke-free?
Are business owners responsible for enforcing the “buffer zone” outside their doorway, when the door opens onto public property, such as public sidewalks?
How does the smoking ban affect the hookah bar in my neighbourhood?
What are the changes in my local retail stores that sell tobacco?
Are there other Canadian provinces/territories that have complete bans on indoor smoking (i.e. no designated smoking rooms allowed)?

Where are tobacco and tobacco products no longer sold?

Tobacco and tobacco products are longer sold at the following locations:

• hospitals or other health care services;
• public post-secondary campuses;
• in any building that is owned or leased by the provincial government or a Crown agency;
• in any building owned or leased by your local government for athletic or recreational purposes, such as your community recreational facility; and
• in libraries.

Can pharmacies sell tobacco?

Yes, pharmacies can continue to sell tobacco if they are located on private property, because they do not meet the definition of a health care service.

Where has smoking been banned?

• Smoking is not permitted in any fully or substantially enclosed public place or a workplace.
• Smoking is not permitted within 3 metres of public or workplace doorways, opening windows, or air intakes (i.e. a “buffer zone”).
• Transit shelters will be smoke-free.
• Common areas of apartment buildings, condominiums and dormitories will be smoke-free.

How are community living facilities affected?

Residents or persons in care of facilities licensed or registered under the Community Care and Assisted Living Act, and patients in extended care facilities or private hospitals (refer to Sec 1 and Part 2 of the Hospital Act) will be able to smoke in designated smoking rooms if one is provided. Staff and visitors will not be able to smoke in these rooms.

Is smoking banned on outdoor patios of restaurants?

The Act does not ban smoking on outdoor patios. It bans smoking in public places and workplaces that are “fully or substantially enclosed”. If the patio is fully or substantially enclosed, smoking is not permitted.

However, landlords or municipalities can bring more stringent restrictions into force and those restrictions will apply. Many municipalities have already or are proposing a total ban on smoking on patios of restaurants and bars.

Are there exemptions to the ban on smoking in enclosed or substantially enclosed public or workplaces?

There are two situations where the ban on smoking does not apply:

• Residents or persons in care of facilities licensed or registered under the Community Care and Assisted Living Act, and patients in extended care facilities or private hospitals (refer to Sec 1 and Part 2 of the Hospital Act) will be able to smoke in designated smoking rooms (but staff and visitors will not be able to smoke there).
• Hotel rooms, but not the common areas of hotels (hotels may also designate hotel rooms as smoke-free rooms).

Municipalities or health authorities may have more stringent restrictions in place for care facilities and those restrictions would apply.

Are legions, casinos, bingo halls or private clubs exempted from the smoking ban?

These establishments are not exempt from the smoking ban. Prohibiting smoking provides a level playing field with other hospitality establishments in our province and protects people from the hazards of second-hand smoke.

Where does the “buffer zone” apply?

The 3 metre buffer zone applies to all public places and work places, such as your shopping mall, library, and office buildings. The area around all doorways, windows that open, and all air intakes cannot be used as an area to smoke. This protects against smoke entering the building, and protects people as they enter or exit the building.

The buffer zone does not apply to hospitality sector patios where smoking can occur, provided that the door between the patio and building remains closed except when entering or exiting the patio; and provided the windows and air intakes between the patio and building remain closed at all time.

Are business owners responsible for enforcing the “buffer zone” outside their doorway, when the door opens onto public property, such as public sidewalks?

Business owners are required to take reasonable steps to prevent people from smoking on their property within the 3 metre buffer zone. They are not required to enforce the law on public property such as sidewalks, unless the person is within the control of the owner (such as a customer or patron) or is an employee.

How does the smoking ban affect the hookah bar in my neighbourhood ?

Hookah bars are not allowed to use tobacco or tobacco blends within enclosed or substantially enclosed bars.

What are the changes in my local retail stores that sell tobacco?

Tobacco retailers cannot display tobacco if minors can enter. In addition, promotion of tobacco is not permitted inside stores, except in very limited ways. For further information, please click on the Retailers link on the left-hand side navigation bar.

Are there other Canadian provinces/territories that have complete bans on indoor smoking (i.e. no designated smoking rooms allowed)?

Nine jurisdictions have complete indoor smoking bans in place – Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland/Labrador, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, and Northwest Territories. Alberta recently introduced legislation that will also result in a complete ban on indoor smoking.