Can You Smoke in Assisted Living?

Yes, you can smoke in assisted living in designated spaces, which are often outside. Because state laws and facility policies vary, some communities have indoor or outdoor smoking areas, while others ban smoking anywhere on-site. Assisted living facilities rarely permit smoking in residents’ accommodations or on private balconies or porches.

No national laws govern smoking in assisted living. Although the U.S. Department of Housing and Development prohibits smoking in all public housing projects, this federal legislation doesn’t apply to assisted living communities. Rather, you must consider state rules and regulations. In some areas, assisted living residents can smoke indoors in a specific enclosed room. For example, Minnesota’s facilities provide clearly marked smoking rooms for residents only, and they must have signs indicating a smoking ban elsewhere on the premises. Similarly, some communities in Montana have smoking rooms, but they must be separate from other communal areas and have exhaust vents.

Other states, such as North Carolina, forbid smoking anywhere inside facilities. However, no rules forbid outdoor smoking. Communities can establish outdoor smoking zones. Florida has similar rules, and Michigan’s Smoke-Free Indoor Air Law applies to assisted living facilities. It’s important to check distance requirements, too, as some states — for example, Washington — stipulate the minimum distance smokers must stand from entrances, windows and vents. When facilities allow smoking — either inside or outside — they must comply with regulations concerning fire safety and worker and resident health.

When states don’t forbid smoking in assisted living facilities, communities can implement their own smoking policies. Even when legislation allows indoor smoking rooms, facilities don’t need to offer these and can create a smoke-free environment. Because of the dangers of secondhand smoke inhalation, fire risks and the comfort of others, many communities only allow smoking in designated outdoor areas.

However, if your facility has a smoking ban throughout its grounds, you must leave the campus to smoke. Moreover, facilities generally don’t allocate caregiver support for smoking assistance if you need help ambulating. Smoking laws and policies usually apply equally to regular cigarettes, electronic cigarettes and recreational smoking or vaping of marijuana.

Per 2021 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around 8% of American seniors smoke cigarettes. If you’re among this number and need assisted living care, many facilities offer smoking cessation programs. You may qualify for state funding via Medicare or Medicaid to cover associated costs.