SF Considers Smoking, Non-Smoking Labels For All Apartments
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) - San Francisco supervisors on Monday planned to consider an ordinance that would inform would-be renters who is smoking in the building.
Supervisor Eric Mar is pushing the plan to require all landlords to label apartment units as smoking or non-smoking and make that information public to other tenants and in advertisements. It's currently legal to smoke inside apartments unless the lease states otherwise.
It's another step toward smoke-free rentals in the city - something supporters is a healthy step in the right direction.
"Secondhand smoke is known to be a toxic substance," said Mar.
The plan is backed by San Francisco Apartment Association, which told the San Francisco Examiner that the proposal would likely lead to fewer units where smoking is permitted. According to the group, landlords largely back such a plan because smoking units require additional maintenance costs.
If forwarded by committee to the full Board of Supervisors and passed, landlords could be required to designate which units are for smokers beginning late next year.
"So this is an effort to create more smoke-free units among apartment buildings and to even have more of an effort to create more buildings that are totally smoke-free," Mar explained.
KCBS' Tim Ryan Reports:
Mar previously lead an effort to ban smoking in ATM lines and at bus stops, and said his next goal is smoke-free street festivals and fairs.
The hearing on the smoke-free apartment legislation was slated for 1 p.m. before a Board of Supervisors committee, at San Francisco City Hall.
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