The Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act
A Guide for the General Public

Effective Dec. 8, 2006, the Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act prohibits the smoking of tobacco products in most public places and indoor places of employment.

Why was the Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act passed?

The Act was passed in order to protect the public from secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke, also called environmental tobacco smoke, is a combination of smoke from the burning end of a cigarette, cigar or pipe and the smoke exhaled by smokers. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that secondhand smoke contains more than 4,000 substances, many of which are known to cause cancer in humans.

In 2006, the U.S. Surgeon General released a detailed report stating that there is no risk-free level of secondhand smoke exposure.

Where is smoking now banned in Nevada?

Nevada law limits smoking tobacco within most indoor places of employment including:

• Public and private school buildings and on public and private school grounds
• Child care facilities with five or more children
• All areas of grocery stores, convenience stores and drug stores
• All indoor areas within restaurants, including those in casinos or gaming establishments
• Bars, taverns and saloons that prepare and serve food
• Shopping malls and retail establishments
• Video arcades
• Government buildings and public places
• Movie theaters

How does the new law affect the slot machine areas of grocery and convenience stores?

Nevada law now bans smoking in all areas of grocery and convenience stores, including gaming areas in these businesses.

How does the new law affect casinos?

The Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act does not apply to gaming areas of casinos. Smoking is still allowed in these areas of the casinos, however, a casino operator can designate separate rooms or areas within the establishment as nonsmoking. For example, many casinos now voluntarily offer smokefree poker rooms.

Areas of casinos that are not in the gaming area are required to be smoke-free, including: restaurants, bars, shopping malls, retail establishments, concert halls, theaters, convention areas, etc.

How does the new law affect restaurants and bars?

All indoor areas of restaurants are now required to be smoke-free. Smoking is still allowed in outdoor areas of restaurants.

Restaurants contained within gaming establishments or casinos are also required to ban smoking.

Bars that prepare and serve food are also required to be smoke-free effective Dec. 8, 2006. Bars that serve prepackaged food, such as peanuts and pretzels, can still allow smoking on their premises.

Where is smoking still allowed?

Smoking is still allowed in the following places:

• Gaming areas of casinos
• Stand-alone bars, taverns and saloons that don’t serve food
• Strip clubs or brothels
• Retail tobacco stores
• Private residences, including those used as an office workplace except if it is used as a child care or health care facility

If an establishment allows me to smoke inside, am I still breaking the law?

Even if an establishment allows you to smoke in an area where smoking is prohibited, you are violating the Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act and may be subject to any applicable penalties.

How will the Act be enforced?

Compliance with the Act, including the posting of “no smoking” signs at every entrance and the removal of ashtrays and other smoking paraphernalia, is the responsibility of the establishment.

The health district has the duty to enforce the provisions of the Act and to issue citations for violations. Individuals may be cited for smoking in areas where it is prohibited, and establishment operators may be cited for failure to post signs and/or failure to remove ashtrays and other smoking paraphernalia.

What are the penalties for violations of the Act?

Currently, violators of the Act are liable for a civil penalty of $100 for each violation.

How can I report violations of the Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act?

Violations can be reported by completing the NCIAA Complaint Form or by calling (702) 759-1990.

Where can I find more information?

For more information on the dangers of secondhand smoke, call the Southern Nevada Health District’s Tobacco Control Program at (702) 759-1270.

For more information regarding compliance with the Act, call the Southern Nevada Health District’s Environmental Health Division at (702) 759-0588.

If I smoke and want to quit, where can I get more information?

Call the Nevada Tobacco User’s Helpline at 1-800-QUIT NOW (1-800- 784-8669) or visit www.livingtobaccofree.com.