Politics & Government

New Law Lets Landlords Ban Smoking

Gov. Jerry Brown signs Senate Bill 332, which allows landlords to prohibit smoking in rental units.

California renters might soon face new smoking rules after Gov. Jerry Brown Wednesday signed a bill that would allow landlords to ban smoking in apartments and other rental units.

The law goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2012.

"With the Governor’s action today, we will see the availability of smoke-free, multi-family housing grow throughout California," said state Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Pacoima, who authored the measure, in a statement Wednesday. “While more than 86 percent of Californians do not smoke, there is currently very little smoke-free housing in California. Living in multi-family housing should not compromise the health of renters or their children. This new law will provide tenants with healthier choices.” 

Find out what's happening in Manhattan Beachwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

While landlords can restrict pets, noise and specific furniture, such as waterbeds, there is nothing in current law that allows a landlord to restrict smoking.

"We know that second-hand smoke is harmful. With this new law renters will have much greater chance of finding a smoke-free environment in which to live," Padilla said. 

Find out what's happening in Manhattan Beachwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Just this week [Tuesday, Sept. 6], the Manhattan Beach City Council approved a new smoking ban, effective Oct. 10, on The Strand and Veterans Parkway [aka greenbelt].

In 2004, City Council made it illegal to smoke on the beach, pier and in the city's parks and recreation areas, but did not include Veterans Parkway, the city's largest park, spanning 21 acres, moving north/south along Valley Drive/Ardmore Avenue, or The Strand.


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