California Apartment Association

Foster City will likely ban smoking in most public places, but the city won’t regulate the habit on private property, including apartments.

During a study session Monday, the City Council told staff to proceed with an anti-smoking ordinance but to leave out multi-family and single-family homes. The vote was 4-1.

The California Apartment Association has been working with the city on the smoking ordinance since the idea came up in September.

At Monday’s session, CAA pointed out that renters increasingly demand smoke-free housing, and property owners are listening.

“Due to the fact that most multifamily building communities are voluntarily smoke-free, we ask the council to evaluate the necessity of (including it) in the smoking ordinance,” said Rhovy Lyn Antonio, government affairs director for CAA’s Tri-County Division. Read this article in the San Mateo Daily Journal for Antonio’s comments and more details on the ordinance debate.