Smoking ban in apartment communities imposed by the municipality

Smoking is not allowed in the common and public indoor areas of the apartment community. The housing association may use a rule of order to prohibit smoking in common outdoor spaces owned and controlled by the housing association, in the vicinity of the building's entrances and air intakes, in the children's play area and on shared balconies.

Primarily, it is recommended to solve problem situations related to smoking by discussing and pointing out a place where smoking is allowed on the property.

Housing associations (apartment joint-stock companies) have the right to request a smoking ban from the municipality in areas controlled by residents, such as apartment balconies. Individual residents do not have the right to apply for a smoking ban in premises owned by the housing association and managed by other residents. The decision to apply for official prohibitions is made by a majority decision of the general meeting in the housing joint-stock company. Applying for bans requires consultation with the owners of the target apartments of the intended ban.

Upon application, the municipality must impose a smoking ban on the premises referred to in the application, if cigarette smoke can drift from the premises to, e.g., another balcony. The threshold for imposing smoking bans on apartment balconies and outdoor areas used by apartments is basically low. A smoking ban can only be ordered in the interior of an apartment in exceptional cases and under stricter additional conditions. Prohibitions imposed by the authority are basically permanent

In the area of ​​Imatra, Parikkala, Rautjärvi and Ruokolahti, smoking ban applications from housing communities are processed by the environmental office of the Imatra region.