Ohio's Smoke-Free Workplace Act bars smoking in enclosed public places. Cincinnati layers outdoor restrictions in city parks, playgrounds, transit stops, and around hospital campuses citywide.
Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3794 prohibits smoking inside enclosed workplaces and public buildings. Cincinnati extends restrictions outdoors: the Cincinnati Park Board bans smoking in playgrounds, athletic fields, and most park property under park rules. SORTA prohibits smoking at bus stops and Cincinnati Bell Connector streetcar platforms. Hospital campuses like UC Medical Center and Cincinnati Children's enforce campus-wide tobacco-free zones. Vaping is treated the same as smoking in most posted areas. Enforcement is typically a minor misdemeanor or trespass warning rather than arrest, but signage and public health education drive compliance.
Smoking in posted parks, playgrounds, transit stops, or hospital campuses can result in citations, ejection, and minor misdemeanor or trespass charges.
See how Cincinnati's outdoor smoking restrictions rules stack up against other locations.
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