Before You Rent

Before signing a lease with an rental property, there are a few steps you can take to ensure you and your family will be protected from secondhand smoke.

• Learn about the importance of living in an apartment building with a smoke free policy
• Understand what the Iowa Smokefree Air Act does and does not cover in apartment buildings
• Search the Iowa Smoke Free Homes registry for smoke free housing in your area

Questions to ask a property manager/owner before signing a housing lease

• Does the apartment building have a smoke free policy? What areas of the building or property does the policy apply to? The Iowa Smokefree Air Act covers common areas, but not individual units.
• Are any residents exempt or have a grandfathered lease that allows them to smoke in their apartment?
• Are there signs in the building or on the property designating that it is smoke free?
• Does the smoke free policy apply to visitors and staff?
• Are electronic smoking devices, such as e-cigarettes, allowed in the building?
• What are the enforcement steps for the smoke free policy?
• What should a renter do if they smell cigarette smoke in their unit?

Revised 10/8/21