Smoke-Free Niagara
Outdoor Bar and Restaurant Patios are Smoke-free
Starting Jan. 1, 2015, it is illegal to smoke on all restaurant and bar patios (covered and uncovered) under the Smoke-free Ontario Act.
A restaurant or bar patio is defined as an area:
- The public can access to eat food or drink beverages, for a fee or at no cost
- Where food or drinks are served, sold or offered by employees
- That is not a private home
To learn more, read the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care factsheet.
Additional changes to the Smoke-Free Ontario Act include:
- No smoking on playgrounds and public sports fields
- No selling tobacco on university and college campuses
Parks and Playgrounds are Smoke-free
In Niagara, smoking on all municipal and regional properties is restricted under Regional By-law 112-2013.
This includes:
- Parks
- Playgrounds
- Sports or playing fields
- Splash pads and outdoor pools
- Arenas
- Festival and events located on municipal and regional property
- Properties such as city hall, libraries and recreation centres
Smoking is allowed on sidewalks, parking lots, roads, rights-of-ways, beaches and walking trails.
Enforcement
Tobacco Control Officers will conduct inspections and enforce the smoking legislation.
To report a complaint, call the Tobacco Hotline at 905-688-8248 or 1-888-505-6074 ext. 7393. You may also submit a complaint online.
Quitting Resources
There are lots of resources available to help you quit smoking. For printed material that includes tips for quitting and self-help materials that can help you become smoke-free, visit smokershelpline.ca.
More help with quitting smoking is also available by contacting the Tobacco Hotline.