Smoking
Smoking Regulations
Effective January 1, 2008 the Tobacco Reduction Act became law.
The Tobacco Reduction Act prohibits smoking in all public places and workplaces. In addition, smoking is not permitted within a prescribed distance of 5 metres from a doorway, window or air intake of a public place or workplace.
Public Places Bylaw 14614
In the City of Edmonton no person shall smoke:
- Inside a building
- Within 5 metres of a doorway, window or air intake
- On a patio related to a business, restaurant, lounge or nightclub
- In a bus, taxi, LRT, bus shelter, LRT platform
- In bars, bingo halls and casinos
Smoking is limited to private living accommodations, private vehicles and designated smoking areas in the workplace.
Reporting an Infraction
If you have a concern about smoking, please contact 780-496-3100. Provide your name, address and a phone number along with the address where the violation occurs and a description of the problem.
Enforcement Action
A Municipal Enforcement Officer will assess the complaint. A warning notice will be issued requiring a remedy to the problem within a set time. Failure to comply with a warning notice may result in a ticket issued to the offender. Serious or repeat violations receive tickets without a warning notice.
If a complaint is made, personal information may be collected under the authority of Section 33(c) of the Alberta Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, Section 642 of the Municipal Government Act. The information will be used to process your complaint however your name and address will not be made available to the public. If you have any questions on the collection and use of this information, please contact the FOIP Representative at 780-496-6052.- Why are patrons still allowed to smoke at some outside stadium events (i.e. Northlands racetrack)?
- Is smoking allowed at outside festivals?
- Is smoking allowed on patios?
- Is smoking allowed outside of buildings?
- Can a bar have an exterior smoking pit?
- What is a business owner's / manager's responsibility for the smoking regulations?
- 1. Why are patrons still allowed to smoke at some outside stadium events (i.e. Northlands racetrack)?
Grandstands are not governed under the Smoking Bylaw as long as they meet the following criteria:
- They are not attached to a bar or lounge.
- Food and beverages are not served.
- They not a covered structure or substantially enclosed structure.
For any grandstands that meet the above criteria, people can smoke on the tarmac or grandstands. For organizations that have grandstands that meet these criteria, it is optional for the management of those facilities to decide whether they will allow smoking in the grandstands. For example: The Commonwealth stadium's management has voluntarily decided they do not want smoking in their facility while the Northlands management has decided to allow smoking.
- 2. Is smoking allowed at outside festivals?
Outside festivals such as the Taste of Edmonton in Sir Winston Churchill Square - the City will not be enforcing the patio provisions of the Smoking bylaw in these cases as the tents supplying the food did not set up the tables (so it is not their patio) and the City has set up the tables for people to sit at but did not supply the food or drinks (not considered a patio).
- 3. Is smoking allowed on patios?
Patios are an outside area of the building intended for consumption of food or drink by patrons of the business providing the service. NO smoking is allowed on these patios.
- 4. Is smoking allowed outside of buildings?
Smoking outside of buildings is not regulated by the bylaw with the exception of patios. However, the new provincial Tobacco Reduction Act may supersede this Bylaw in certain examples.
- 5. Can a bar have an exterior smoking pit?
Yes, as long as the area is not "substantially enclosed" or a "building" and no food or liquor is served in that area. Any establishment interested in setting up an exterior smoking pit should contact Bylaw Services at 780-496-3100.
- 6. What is a business owner's / manager's responsibility for the smoking regulations?
- Take progressive steps to ensure that smoking does not take place within the restaurant by asking patrons to extinguish cigarette/cigars, refuse them service and request them to leave.
- If owners cannot gain compliance from a patron, the Edmonton Police Service may be contacted at 780-423-4567.
For more information:
Customer Information and Support Services
Planning & Development Department
5th floor, 10250 - 101 Street
Edmonton, AB T5J 3P4
| Telephone | In Edmonton: 311 Outside Edmonton: 780-442-5311 |
|---|---|
| Fax | 780-496-6054 |
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