Smoking in Public Places Law

Since 2005, RCW 70.160: Smoking in Public Places (SIPP) has been protecting employees, visitors, patrons and others from secondhand smoke by prohibiting smoking in all public places and places of employment. Owners and persons in charge are responsible for ensuring no employees, clients or patrons are smoking indoors or within 25 feet of any door, exit, window that opens or ventilation intake. Owners must also post “No Smoking Signs” on all entrances to the business.

On April 28, 2016, the Spokane Regional Health District (SRHD) Board of Health passed a resolution to enforce the prohibition of vaping device use in public places in the same way it enforces prohibitions on smoking in public places.

Resolution #16-01

This resolution applies to public places and places of employment within Spokane County. SIPP and the resolution require that in public places and in places of employment, businesses do the following:

• Prohibit vaping and smoking in public places. Vaping or smoking any combustible product that produces vapor or smoke, including but not limited to tobacco, cigar, hookah, marijuana, and vaping devices, is not allowed in public places. Public places include bars, restaurants, bowling centers, skating rinks, and non-tribal casinos. The definition also includes private residences used to provide child care, foster care, adult care, or similar social services, and at least 75 percent of the sleeping quarters within a hotel.
• Prohibit vaping and smoking in places of employment. This includes patios and other outdoor seating and dining areas that employees are required to service or clean.
• Post “No Smoking. No Vaping.” signs in your establishment. Signs must be posted conspicuously at each building entrance, including service, employee, or any doors that open from the outside. Retail and retail service establishments must also place signage in prominent locations throughout their place of business.
  5 x 7 vertical vinyl sign (white): "No Smoking No Vaping within 25ft of building entrances" (PDF)
  5 x 7 horizontal paper sign (green): "No Smoking No Vaping" (PDF)
• Prohibit vaping and smoking within 25 feet of entrances, exits, windows that open, and ventilation intakes that serve the enclosed area where smoking is prohibited. Businesses or building managers are responsible for enforcing this provision on their property or property under their control—particularly with regard to employee smoking. Local law enforcement agencies are responsible for enforcement in cases where vaping or smoking occurs within 25 feet of a business on property that is not under the control of the business, such as public sidewalks. People passing by or through a public place or public right of way are not considered to have intentionally violated this provision.

Smoke- and tobacco-free environments help protect individuals from secondhand and thirdhand smoke. They also make it easier for people to quit and support those who have quit by eliminating potential triggers. SRHD works with local businesses, employers, landlords, colleges, and universities to create smoke- and tobacco-free communities.

All residents have a right to clean, smoke-free air. Unfortunately, people who live in multi-unit housing are commonly exposed to SHS.

SHS is a mixture of side stream smoke from the tip of the cigarette and mainstream smoke exhaled by the smoker. SHS contains more than 4,000 chemicals, 250 of which are known to be harmful and more than 50 are known to cause cancer. There is no safe level of SHS exposure.

• Exposure to SHS causes lung cancer, heart disease, exacerbation of asthma, higher incidence of respiratory illness and other respiratory health issues.
• Infants, children, and people with pre-existing conditions, such as asthma, are especially vulnerable to the health effects of SHS.
• SHS can cause people with asthma to have more frequent and severe asthma attacks.