Apartment Smoking Ban Nearing Close to Home

A law that would let landlords prohibit smoking in apartment buildings to protect tenants from secondhand smoke passed in the state senate Thursday -- it next goes to the state assembly, reports the LA Times.

"Current law is silent with respect to a landlords' ability to impose a smoking ban," said Monica Williamson of the California Apartment Assn., which supports the senate bill and represents 50,000 property owners. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima), who introduced SB 1598, left out rent-controlled apartments and requires landlords to give a 12-month notice.

Sen. Dick Ackerman (R-Irvine) and other Republicans said it was against public will. "The vast majority of all renters, including . . . nonsmokers, are opposed to it." He based his "public will" and "majority" references on an Apartments.com survey.

Photo by Funkman via Flickr