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Extracted Content

Outdoor Smoking

Smoking must be prohibited on the project site except in areas specifically designated for smoking. No smoking is permitted within 25 feet (7.5 meters) of all building openings, such as doors, windows, and ventilation intakes to minimize the likelihood of smoke entering the building. Emergency exits do not qualify as building openings if the doors are alarmed, as alarmed doors will rarely be opened. Emergency exits without alarms qualify as building openings.

Smoking is not allowed in programmable spaces (e.g., outdoor cigar lounges or casino areas, courtyards, outdoor cafes or sidewalk seating, space used for business purposes).

A designated smoking area is a specific outdoor location where smoking is permitted. It is acceptable for this area to be covered (if it is open-air), have seating to make people feel comfortable, and to have safe disposal bins for cigarettes.

Communicate the No Smoking Policy

This prerequisite requires proactive communication of the indoor and outdoor no-smoking policy to occupants. The project must have established enforcement provisions or smoking signage in place. Examples of enforcement provisions include scheduled inspections, and/or written process for security staff and receptionists to inform visitors of no-smoking policy when necessary. The project determines the placement and design of signage, allowing for flexibility to address site-specific considerations and to accommodate existing signage that may already be in place.

Schools

• Schools must prohibit all smoking on site to ensure no secondhand smoke exposure to students, staff, and visitors. Banning smoking on school premises sets a strong example for students, encouraging them to adopt and maintain healthy, smoke-free lifestyles.

• Signage must be posted on the property line to indicate the no-smoking policy. Signage at the school helps to ensure public awareness and compliance with smoke-free environments, especially in areas where children’s health is a priority. The signs serve as a clear visual reminder for staff, visitors, and passersby.

Exceptions The enforcement of no-smoking policies does not extend to areas within residential health care projects, such as long-term care facilities, where residents may have a clinical need to smoke.

This prerequisite is not intended to prohibit or deter Indigenous or other cultural ceremonial practices (e.g. smudging) which may include the combustion of

U.S. Green Building Council LEED v5 Reference Guide for Operations and Maintenance, April 2025 Launch Edition 217