All workplaces, restaurants and bars in Ohio are 100% smokefree as of December 7th, 2006. The law took effect on December 7th, 2006 and despite a court challenge regarding enforcement and penalties, the law remained in effect. In April, 2007 the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review approved the rules and penalties for the law, allowing for enforcement to begin on May 1, 2007. Read Ohio's 100% smokefree law.

To learn more about the law, visit the Ohio Department of Health or call 1-866-634-7654
To report a violation, call 1-866-559-OHIO (6446)

Ohio's 2009-2010 Legislative Session: January 5, 2009 - December 1, 2010 (est.)

In November 2006, Ohio voters approved a strong smokefree law, with 58.3% voter support for SmokeFree Ohio’s Issue 5. During the campaign, R.J. Reynolds and other tobacco industry allies attempted to override the health community-backed initiative by placing a competing measure on the ballot, which offered no real smokefree protections. Voters rejected Issue 4 , the tobacco-backed amendment, by 64%, thus leaving the door wide open for smokefree air.

Ohio law does not preempt the passage of local smokefree laws. Read more about current tobacco-related legislation in Ohio.

Current tobacco-related statistics are available from the Centers for Disease Control's Tobacco Control State Highlights, 2007.