Santa Monica Will Force Tenants to Register as Smokers

West Hollywood residents have . But a new Santa Monica ordinance goes far in the opposite direction.

On Tuesday night, The ordinance also requires landlords to distribute a map pinpointing where smokers live to all residents in the building.

Santa Monica Councilman Kevin McKeown called this disclosure mandate an attempt to “demonize smokers.” Evoking images of Nazi Germany persecution of Jews, McKeown said, "You might as well hammer a big yellow S on their front doors."

The anti-smoking measure passed the Santa Monica City Council on a 4-2 vote based on concerns about the dangers of second-hand smoke.

Santa Monica smokers are free to smoke in their current apartments as long as they register with their landlord. Units occupied by smokers who fail to disclose their smoking statuses will automatically become “non-smoking” units.

Those who smoke in non-smoking units will face a $100 fine. Repeat offenders will be subject to citations as high as $500.

The ordinance also bans smoking in any newly constructed apartment/condo units and mandates that existing apartment units become non-smoking units once they become vacant.

In 2010, Santa Monica banned smoking in common areas and patios of multi-unit residences.

As of November 2011, smokefree housing policies have been adopted in 55 communities statewide, according to the American Lung Association in California. Details about each of the laws are included in the PDF accompanying this article in the photo section.

According to a 2010 report compiled the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, 10.7% of Santa Monica residents smoke, compared to 19.6% of West Hollywood residents. In Los Angeles County, 14.6% of residents smoke.