Adopting a Smoke-Free Policy in Affordable Housing
Whether your property is publicly or privately subsidized, you can adopt a smoke-free policy for your building. The requirements for implementing a smoke-free policy in affordable housing may vary depending on the type of subsidy or assistance the property receives. If you have questions not answered below contact Live Smoke Free.
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The tools and resources on this page are specific to affordable housing and are supplemental to the information on the Property Managers page.
Public Housing
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires all public housing to have a smoke-free policy in order to protect the health and safety of all residents and staff, lower maintenance costs, and reduce the risk of deadly and costly fires.The rule restricts the use of prohibited tobacco products including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and hookah. Use of these products is not allowed anywhere inside public housing buildings including individual units, common areas, offices, or within 25 feet of the building(s).
More About HUD’s Smoke-Free Public Housing Rule
Minnesota Smoke-Free Public Housing Implementation Toolkit
This toolkit was created in 2018 for use by Minnesota public housing agencies. However, the tools listed below are useful to a broad array of multi-unit housing in the process of implementing a smoke-free policy. The toolkit development was supported by a Tobacco Free Communities Grant from the Minnesota Department of Health.
See our cessation page for more resources to help your residents and staff quit.
Support Your Residents
In Quitting
Most people who smoke want to quit. Give your residents and staff the tools they need to quit successfully.
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Quit Partner: Minnesota’s free way to quit nicotine, including smoking, vaping and chewing (1-800-QUIT-NOW).
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Quit Partner flyers, postcards, and posters for download
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National Resources for Public Housing Agencies
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Clean Air for All: The Smoke-Free Public Housing Project
From 2018 to 2021, the Live Smoke Free program collaborated with the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials on a project called Clean Air for All. The project provided training and technical assistance to public housing agencies, resident services staff, and public housing residents impacted by HUD’s smoke-free public housing rule. Clean Air for all was funded by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Below are resources created and collected as part of the Clean Air for All project.
About the HUD Smoke-Free Public Housing Rule
Resources for PHA Staff
A Public Housing Agency’s Guide to Adopting and Maintaining a Successful Smoke-Free Public Housing Policy in the United States Developed by Clean Air for All: The Smoke-Free Public Housing Project (PDF)
Resources for Residents
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Tips from Former Smokers – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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For commercial tobacco cessation/treatment information see “National Resources” on our Cessation page.
Educational Resources
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Secondhand Tobacco Smoke and Smoke-Free Homes – Environmental Protection Agency
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Thirdhand Smoke FAQ – Live Smoke Free Program, Association for Nonsmokers – MN
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Electronic Cigarettes: What’s the Bottom Line? – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Going Smoke Free Matters – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Marijuana in Multi-Unit Residential Settings (2019) – Public Health Law Center
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Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) and Smoke-Free Housing – Clean Air for All
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Smoke-Free Public Housing Reasonable Accommodations – Public Health Law Center
VIDEO: Breathing Easier at Home – American Lung Association
HUD Resources
Additional Resources
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HUD Guidebook: Implementing HUD’s Smoke-Free Policy in Public Housing
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HUD smoke-free public housing fact sheets
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HUD smoke-free multifamily housing resource bank
Resources for Resident Service Providers
Global Directory of Smoke-Free Housing Programs
Connect with a local smoke-free housing program near you!
Additional Resources
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March 9, 2021
Equitable and Effective Enforcement of Smoke-Free Public Housing Policies (passcode: $Fqg$1ya) -
January 27, 2021
Working Together: Resident Engagement during and after the Pandemic (Password .dG8!Y0C) -
February 27, 2020
Smoke-Free Public Housing: Looking Back, Looking Forward -
July 23, 2019
First Anniversary of the HUD Smoke-Free Housing Rule: Successes, Challenges, and Next Steps -
June 4, 2019
Smoke-Free Public Housing Compliance & Enforcement: New Tools with Practical Applications -
August 7, 2018
Successful Resident Engagement Before and After Smoke-Free Policy Implementation -
February 21, 2019
Boosting Compliance and Improving Enforcement in Smoke-Free Public Housing
Featured Videos
(September 19-22, 2019) Clean Air for All (CAFA) highlights from the 2018 NAR-SAAH Annual Conference
(September 19-22, 2019) Clean Air for All smoke-free housing presentation at NAR-SAAH 2018 National Conference
