Smoking and vaping is prohibited everywhere in hotels, motels and inns – except in guest rooms designated for smoking or vaping (see below for details).
Smoking and vaping is also not permitted on children’s playgrounds at hotels, motels and inns, including all public areas within a 20-metre radius of the perimeter of a children’s playground.
It is also against the law to smoke or vape on bar and restaurant patios and public areas within a nine-metre radius of any point on the perimeter of the patio. This includes patios at a food service area at a hotel, motel and inn.
These areas have all been designated smoke-free and vape-free.
Guests of a hotel, motel or inn may smoke or vape in their room only if management has designated the room as a smoking or vaping guest room. The designated guest room must be fully enclosed by floor-to-ceiling walls, a ceiling and doors that separate it from any neighbouring area in which smoking or vaping is not allowed.
Only registered guests of a hotel, motel or inn and their invited guests can smoke or vape in designated guest rooms.
The Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 (SFOA, 2017) requires proprietors or employers of hotels, motels and inns to make sure that smoking and vaping laws are followed on their property. A proprietor includes the owner, operator or person in charge.
In all smoke-free and vape-free areas of the hotel, motel or inn, the proprietor or employer must:
An individual who violates the prohibition on smoking or vaping in the smoke-free or vape-free areas of a hotel, motel or inn may be charged with an offence, and on conviction could be subject to a maximum fine of $1,000 (for a first offence) or $5,000 (for any further offence).
An employer or proprietor that fails to fulfill their responsibility under the law may be charged with an offence, and if convicted, could face a maximum fine:
Print the Hotels, Motels & Inns Fact Sheet.