ODH Toll Free Lines

Toll-free Information Line
1-866-634-7654
This line should be used for general information concerning the law, or for non-enforcement related questions.

Toll-free Enforcement Line
1-866-559-OHIO (6446)
This line should be used for all enforcement-related questions or to report violations.  This telephone number must appear on No Smoking signs.

On Nov. 7, 2006, Ohio voters passed Issue 5, creating Ohio’s new smoking ban under a new Chapter of Ohio Revised Code (ORC). This law required public places and workplaces to be smoke free as of
December 7, 2006.  It also required the Ohio Director of Health to adopt rules focusing on education of the public and businesses, as well as designation of enforcement authority and enforcement procedures.
ORC Chapter 3794 became effective December 7, 2006; the corresponding rules became effective
June 7, 2007.

Businesses and organizations are required to:

• Prohibit smoking in any “public place” or “place of employment”.

“Public place” means an enclosed area to which the public is invited or in which the public is permitted and that is not a private residence.

“Place of employment” means an enclosed area under the direct or indirect control of an employer that the employer’s employees use for work or any other purpose, including but not limited to, offices, meeting rooms, sales, production and storage areas, restrooms, stairways, hallways, warehouses, garages, and vehicles. An enclosed area as described herein is a place of employment without regard to the time of day or the presence of employees.

• Post conspicuous signs in every “public place” and “place of employment” where smoking is prohibited, including at each entrance.

The statute requires these signs to say “No Smoking” or have the “No Smoking” international symbol (consisting of a pictorial representation of a burning cigarette enclosed in a red circle with a red bar across it). Please note: If the No Smoking symbol is used, it must, in accordance with ORC 3794.06A, be printed in color.

The signs must be clearly legible and shall contain the toll free number [1-866-559-OHIO (6446)] for reporting violations.

• Remove all ash trays and other receptacles used for disposing of smoking materials from any area where smoking is prohibited by the statute.

Click here to visit ODH's website for more information on Ohio's Smoking Law