What’s Included in the Law?

As of July 1, 2006, smoking no longer is allowed in most indoor public places including (but not limited to):

• Restaurants, bars, gaming facilities such as bingo halls, billiard or pool halls, bowling alleys, public buildings, grocery stores or any food service establishment
  
• Theaters, museums, libraries, schools, educational institutions, and common areas of retirement facilities, publicly-owned housing facilities and nursing homes (except areas of assisted living facilities – see exemptions section)
  
• Lobbies, elevators, restrooms, reception areas, hallways and any other common-use areas in public and private buildings, condominiums and other multiple-unit residential facilities
• Indoor sports arenas, gymnasiums and auditoriums
• Heath care facilities, hospitals, health care clinics, doctors’ offices and child day care facilities
• Common areas in hotels and motels, and no less than 75 percent of hotel or motel sleeping quarters rented to guests
• Jury waiting and deliberation rooms, courtrooms and public meetings
• Government-owned mass transportation of any kind, taxi cabs and limousines not under private hire
• Casinos (as of January 1, 2008)
• Any place of employment not exempted

In addition, smoking is not allowed within 15 feet of an establishment or business main entryway unless defined differently by a local law.

What's Exempt from the Law?

Of course, there are exceptions to every rule. Smoking is permitted in the following locations:

• Private homes, residences and automobiles unless they are being used for child day care or day care
• Areas of assisted living facilities that are designated for residents that are fully enclosed and ventilated and to which access is restricted to the residents or their guests
  
• Limousines under private hire
• Up to 25 percent of rented hotel or motel rooms
• Retail tobacco businesses
• An establishment that met the definition of a “cigar-tobacco bar” as of December 31, 2005
• The outdoor area of any business as long as it is beyond the 15 foot radius around the main entryway
• The airport smoking lounges at Denver International Airport
• Employers with three or fewer employees/volunteers who do not allow access to the public
• A private, non-residential building on a farm or ranch that has an annual gross income of less than $500,000
  

To view the full original law, casino law or assisted living facility law, please click here.