Public health partners are instrumental in building community support, educating key stakeholders, and sharing model language to support smoke-free housing ordinances. There are a variety of policy options for local municipalities interested in addressing this issue:

• Requirement — Dozens of U.S. cities and counties have enacted ordinances that prohibit smoking in 100% of private units of rental multi-unit housing properties. This is an opportunity for Michigan municipalities, as well. The Public Health Law Center has developed the Smoke-Free Multi-Unit Housing - National Model Ordinance that can be adapted for local use.
• Disclosure — Some municipalities have adopted ordinances that require property owners to disclose their smoking policies to prospective renters or buyers. The Public Health Law Center has developed a resource on Disclosure of Smoking Policies in Multi-Unit Housing.
• Incentives — Local jurisdictions can provide incentives for smoke-free housing, such as promotions, funding for implementation, or discounted rental property license fees.

Please Note: You may wish to consult with a local attorney familiar with housing laws prior to working on smoke-free multi-unit housing ordinances.

Many public health professionals are limited in their ability to lobby for ordinances by funding sources or organizational restrictions. However, individuals can still educate stakeholders about the harms of secondhand smoke and the benefits of smoke-free housing policies while avoiding discussion of specific legislation.
 

Encouraging property managers to adopt voluntary smoke-free multi-unit housing policies requires an all-hands-on-deck approach from public health partners across Michigan. Here’s how to get started:

1. Research rental housing stock.* Use online housing searches to create a list of multi-unit rental properties in your area. State and local housing organizations may have existing lists to assist with this process.
2. Assess smoke-free status. Determine whether each properties are smoke-free. This information is often on property management or housing search websites. However, sometimes property managers must be contacted individually by email or phone.
3. Conduct outreach. Reach out to housing associations/organizations and property managers whose properties are not smoke-free to share information about the Benefits of Smoke-Free Buildings. It may be helpful to make a business case for going smoke-free.
4. Provide resources and technical assistance. Visit the Smoke-Free Property Managers page to share tools for adopting smoke-free policies. You can also refer property managers to the MDHHS Tobacco Section for technical assistance.
5. Share your successes. MDHHS would love to hear about your successes. Please email MDHHS-TobaccoSection@michigan.gov to share about any smoke-free policies passed or other wins.
    

*Please Note: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) already requires Public Housing Agencies to adopt smoke-free policies, but this does not cover mixed finance properties. Market rate housing and other affordable housing properties have the option, but are not required, to be smoke-free. Michigan’s Smoke-Free Indoor Air Law is generally interpreted to prohibit smoking in indoor common areas, but not the living units of apartments and condominiums.
 

Low-income renters (including nonsmokers) are more likely than higher-income individuals to be exposed to secondhand smoke at home. The Low Income Housing Tax Credits program provides financial incentives to increase and preserve affordable rental housing across the country. While many states require eligible properties to be smoke-free, Michigan currently does not. As of 2024, about one-third of participating properties do not have a smoke-free policy. The program’s Qualified Allocation Plan is the document that establishes property eligibility guidelines, and there are annual opportunities to educate about the benefits of smoke-free housing and concerns about secondhand smoke exposure through the public comment and public hearing process.

Learn more about Michigan’s program and this topic through the Fact Sheet on the Low-Income Housing Tax Credits Program and Smoke-Free Policies in Michigan and the Public Health Law Center’s Creating Smoke-Free Affordable Housing resource.

Offer tobacco cessation resources and workshops to housing providers.

Whether a property is about to go smoke-free or already has a policy, offering tobacco cessation resources or a workshop to residents and staff can reinforce the smoke-free policy, encourage quitting, and improve policy compliance.

Visit Michigan.gov/Quitlink to learn more about existing tobacco quit resources or email MDHHS-QuitKit@michigan.gov to request printed Michigan Tobacco Quitlink materials.