How to create a smoke-free environment

Nov 3, 2025

Exposure to secondhand smoke from tobacco products can cause certain diseases, including cáncer de pulmón, in people who don’t smoke. People can be exposed in their homes and workplaces, as well as restaurants and bars, and unfortunately, there is no safe amount of exposure. Read on to find out what you can do to create a smoke-free home or environment.

What can I do if I live with someone who smokes?

If you live with someone who smokes, encourage them to quit and to find out if they are eligible for lung cancer screening. Not only are they endangering their own health, but they are also affecting their loved ones’ health, especially children, infants and pregnant people.

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If you live with someone who smokes and is unable to quit, encourage them to implement these practices recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics to reduce others’ exposure to secondhand smoke:

Do not smoke inside your home. Opening a window, sitting in a separate room or using ventilation, air conditioning or a fan cannot get rid of secondhand smoke exposure for others, and the effects can linger even after just one exposure.

Remind guests that your home is smoke-free and create a designated area to smoke outside away from those who don’t smoke. Leave umbrellas by the door so people can go outside to smoke even on rainy days.

Do not smoke inside your vehicle. If you’re tempted, try keeping your cigarettes in your trunk while you drive or leaving yourself a note on your dashboard that reminds you of your commitment to not smoking in your car.

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If you have young children, make sure anyone who has been smoking changes their clothes before getting close to them.

What can I do if I live in a building that is not smoke-free?

Unfortunately, even if you don’t share a home with people who smoke, if you live in a multi-unit building, like an apartment or condo, you could still experience the effects of secondhand smoke from others. According to the American Lung Association (ALA), studies have shown an estimated 44%-53% of multi-unit housing residents who do not allow smoking in their home have experienced secondhand smoke coming into their home from other parts of the building. The ALA suggests steps you can take to protect your family from secondhand smoke from other units:

Check your apartment lease or condominium rules to see if smoking is allowed or if it is addressed at all.

See if your state, county or town has any rules related to smoking in multi-unit buildings.

If you know your neighbors smoke and feel comfortable, talk to them about how secondhand smoke may affect your loved ones’ health and see if you can come to an agreement about where they smoke to limit your exposure.

Talk to your landlord or apartment manager about the secondhand smoke issue in your building and set up a community meeting to discuss possible solutions, such as creating a smoke-free environment policy.

If moving to a different unit or building is a possibility for your family, consider looking into housing options that have stronger smoke-free policies. You can also look for signs of thirdhand smoke in units you tour, like yellowing on the walls or a stale tobacco smell. If you are purchasing a home, let your real estate agent know you will only buy a smoke-free home. Or, ask about the history of tobacco use in the home and consider remediation to clean out the effects of tobacco.

What other ways can I create a smoke-free community?

As of July 2025, 28 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and 1,217 municipalities across the U.S. have laws in effect that require 100% smoke-free workplaces, including restaurants and bars.

Though smoke-free laws are increasingly common in other places, most local and state-wide laws don’t apply to college campuses. As of 2017, only 16.7% of colleges and universities were 100% smoke- or tobacco-free. American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation outlines some steps you can take if your campus isn’t smoke-free and you’d like that to change.

If your neighborhood is part of a Homeowners Association, depending on state laws, you may be able to prohibit smoking in common areas. Check with your board to see what might be possible for your neighborhood.

To get started on creating a change, check out this resource from Harvard University T.H. Chan School of Public Health. If you live in a community or frequent a public place that is not smoke-free, it can take a lot of work and support to create a smoke-free environment, but it can make a lasting impact on the health of your community.