Georgia - Smokefree Air Act

Statewide partial smoking ban: On July 1, 2005, the Smokefree Air Act went into effect, banning smoking statewide in all enclosed workplaces in Georgia, including most restaurants, except as otherwise designated.

The Act exempts designated smoking areas in non-work areas of businesses that are separately ventilated, bars and restaurants where persons under 18 years of age are not employed or permitted to enter, separately enclosed smoking rooms in any bar or restaurant, private residences not used as healthcare or child daycare facilities, hotel/motel rooms designated as smoking rooms, retail tobacco stores, nursing homes, outdoor areas, designated areas in international airports, workplaces of a tobacco manufacturer or other tobacco business, privately-owned meeting and assembly rooms during private functions where persons under 18 are not allowed, and areas of private places of employment (other than medical facilities) that are open to the general public by appointment only.Local governments may regulate smoking more strictly than the state.