Frequently Asked Questions

The Iowa Smokefree Air Act prohibits smoking in the common areas of apartment buildings (stairs, hallways, laundry room, etc) but does not prohibit smoking in an individual's apartment.

Smoking can be prohibited by the property owner or apartment manager and we suggest you look for a non-smoking residence before you move. Use the website below to search for smokefree homes around the state.

• smokefreehomes.iowa.gov

The law went into effect on July 1, 2008.

The Iowa Smokefree Air Act does not have a distance requirement.

The Iowa Smokefree Air Act does not apply to Electronic Smoking Devices (e-cigs, vape, Juul, etc...). The use of these products MAY be prohibited by a business or property owner if they adopt such a policy.

Smoking is prohibited in the outdoor seating and/ or serving area of a restaurant. A restaurant is an establishment that prepares food. (Usually they will have a kitchen, a fryer or grill, etc. The difference is between, for example, making a pizza or just warming one up). Outdoor seating and/ or serving areas must be marked as non-smoking when you enter the area.

You can order free No Smoking signs (clings or stickers) by emailing TobContactUs@idph.iowa.gov. Please include how many you need, if you want clings or stickers, and where to send them or call 888-944-2247.

First, smoking is not prohibited in the “cabs of motortrucks or truck tractors if no nonsmoking employees are present.” Iowa Code § 142D.4(7). 

“Motor truck” and “truck tractors” are not defined in the SFAA but are defined in Iowa Code chapter 321: 

• “motor truck” means every motor vehicle designed primarily for carrying livestock, merchandise, freight of any kind, or over nine persons as passengers” 
• “trucktractor” means every motor vehicle designed and used primarily for drawing other vehicles and not so constructed as to carry a load other than a part of the weight of the vehicle and load so drawn.” Iowa Code § 321.1(41), (88)