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The 2009 House Bill 2 was signed into law (see Session Law 2009-27  , commonly known as North Carolina's Smoke-Free Restaurants and Bars Law) on May 19, 2009. The law went into effect January 2, 2010, giving local government agencies clear authority to further regulate smoking on local government grounds and in enclosed public places.
A local government may adopt a local law restricting or prohibiting smoking that is more restrictive than the state law. In other words, the local law can place more restrictions on smoking or prohibit smoking in more places than is currently provided for in the state law. The local law may not reduce or take away restrictions and prohibitions provided for in the state law. This local authority extends to the following locations:
- Local government buildings,
- Unenclosed areas owned, leased, or occupied by the local government,
- In passenger-carrying vehicles owned, leased, or otherwise controlled by local government and assigned permanently or temporarily by local government to local government employees, agencies, institutions, or facilities for official local government business, and
- Enclosed areas to which the public is invited or in which the public is permitted (i.e., “public places”).
Local governments may not, however, adopt a local law that restricts or prohibits smoking in the following places:
- A private residence,
- A private vehicle,
- A tobacco shop (subject to limitations provided for in the law),
- Property of a tobacco leaf grower or tobacco products processor or manufacturer,
- A motion picture, television, theater, or other live production set, with respect to the actor or performer portraying the use of tobacco products during the production,
- Designated smoking guest rooms in lodging establishments (up to 20% of the guest rooms),
- Cigar bars (on this page, see the Exceptions questions group, then "Cigar bars"), and
- Private clubs, including country clubs.
The toolkit below has been developed - in collaboration with the NC Association of Local Health Directors - to provide guidance to local governments for creating and implementing new smoke-free/tobacco-free policies.
The NC League of Municipalities reviewed the model municipal ordinances listed below and the NC Association of County Commissioners reviewed the county model ordinances.
- Jim D. Martin, MS, Director of Policy and Programs; (919) 707-5404; email
- Elisabeth K. Constandy, MS, Director of Program Development; (910) 790-6007; email
- Anna Stein, JD, Attorney, (919) 707-5406; email
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- Surgeon General’s Report Overview
- Six Major Conclusions of the 2006 Surgeon General’s Report
- Health Effects Brief
- Lung Cancer
- Respiratory Effects
- Heart Disease
- SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) and Other Health Consequences in Infants and Children
- No Safe Levels of Exposure
- Secondhand Smoke is a Known Health Hazard
- Smoke-Free Policies Can Create Positive Behavior Change
- Smoking and Secondhand Smoke is Costly
- Public Opinion Supports Smoke-Free Workplaces
- Costs to Employers
- Smoking-Caused Monetary Costs in North Carolina
- Research: Economic Effects of Secondhand Smoke
- Costs to Individuals and Society
- Why It Doesn’t Work for Secondhand Smoke
- Position Statements
- Assess the Current Situation
- Develop the Policy
- Communicate with Employees and Management
- Announce and Manage the Policy
- Possible Issues and Sample Responses
- Public Education/Posting Signs
- Quitting Resources
- Facts about Nicotine
- Facts about Addiction
- Facts about Withdrawal
- Facts about Quitting
- Benefits of Quitting
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The NC League of Municipalities reviewed the model municipal ordinances listed below and the NC Association of County Commissioners reviewed the county model ordinances.
- Model City Ordinances
- Grounds (PDF, 45 KB; DOC, 62 KB)
- Public Places (PDF, 42 KB; DOC, 66 KB)
- Parks (PDF, 68 KB; DOC, 73 KB)
- Model County Ordinances
- Grounds (PDF, 45 KB; DOC, 61 KB)
- Public Places (PDF, 43 KB; DOC, 64 KB)
- Parks (PDF, 64 KB; DOC, 71 KB)
- Board of Health Rules
- Grounds (PDF, 39 KB; DOC, 70 KB)
- Public Places (PDF, 47 KB; DOC, 67 KB)
- Parks (PDF, 72 KB; DOC, 77 KB)
- Resolutions
- BOH Parks and Recreation (PDF, 43 KB; DOC, 47 KB)
- BOH Overall Authority (PDF, 33 KB; DOC, 41 KB)
- City Committee Parks and Recreation (PDF, 31 KB; DOC, 50 KB)
- County Committee Parks and Recreation (PDF, 31 KB; DOC, 49 KB)
The local government should work with all news media outlets (newspapers, TV, radio, blogs, etc.) in their county/city to make sure the public is informed about the new local regulation.
- Model City News Releases
- Model County News Releases
- Model County Board of Health News Releases
For assistance with news releases, please contact:
Ann Houston Staples, CHES
Director of Public Education & Communication
Tobacco Prevention & Control Branch, NC Division of Public Health
Email
(704) 543-2347
FAX (704) 543-2348
Signs are perhaps the most important compliance aid. Every area established as smoke-free or tobacco-free under the policy should post a conspicuous sign stating that fact. The international "No Smoking" symbol consisting of a pictorial representation of a cigarette enclosed in a circle with a bar across it is considered acceptable.
The signs linked below are intended as samples. You may download the sign/s and complete the blanks using Adobe software.
- Prohibiting All Tobacco Products
- Prohibiting Smoking in Public Places
- Sample Pocket Cards and Business Cards
Communication and education are the most important factors in successfully implementing a new smoke-free local regulation. In addition to posting signs to let the public know it is against the law to smoke/use tobacco products, many in charge of enforcing new local regulations use a friendly reminder approach in the form of a positively worded post card or business card that reminds the smoker/tobacco user of the new ordinance and thanks them for their cooperation. On the reverse side is information on how to quit tobacco use, including a reference to the Quitline at 1-800-Quit-Now (1-800-784-8669). These can be passed out by formal leaders and informal leaders during the days leading up to the ordinance going into effect, and as a friendly reminder after the ordinance is in effect.
If you would like to customize this card with your logo, or make any other changes, please e-mail Barbara Clark for assistance.
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