Wisconsin Smoke Free Law

Wisconsin Smoke-Free Law Effective July 5, 2010

All workplaces including restaurants, bars and taverns in Wisconsin must be smoke-free to protect employees and the public from secondhand smoke.

Definitions of this law include:

Place of Employment: any indoor place that employees enter carrying out their work duties such as office, work area, employee lounge, restroom, conference room, meeting room, classroom, elevator, stairway, lobby, common area, vehicle, cafeteria, meeting room, or hallway.

Public Place: any place open to the public or where the public may be invited

Enclosed Place: a structure or area that has a roof and more than two substantial walls

Substantial Wall: a wall with no opening or with an opening that either does not allow air in from the outside or is less than 25 percent (25%) of the wall’s surface area

Smoking: a cigar, cigarette, pipe or other lighted smoking equipment , Note: E‐cigarettes are not included

How do you comply?

Signs prohibiting smoking must be posted at entrances and in prominent locations inside your business. Signs should provide directions or establish a location for outdoor smoking. Do not allow anyone to smoke indoors and ask them to leave otherwise.
 

What are the penalities for breaking this law?

An individual in violation of this law will be fined $100 to $250.