California Apartment Association

The California Apartment Association’s work with San Mateo County has helped shape an ordinance that protects residents from smoking while limiting the liability of rental property owners.

The county, including the Board of Supervisors and county counsel, partnered with CAA Tri-County since May 2013 to protect property owners’ and managers’ interests in the regulations.

This resulted in wording amenable to the industry because it provides:

• Liability protection.
• The ability to designate a smoking area.
• A 14-month phase-in period.
• No requirements to post “No Smoking” signage in each unit.

The ordinance, approved by supervisors on a 4-1 vote Tuesday, Oct. 21, will ban smoking inside multi-family units and apply only to unincorporated areas of the county, affecting about 1,100 units. The ordinance takes effect Dec. 4. It will apply immediately to new construction, and 14 months later, make existing units smoke-free.

CAA Tri-County thanked the Board of Supervisors for reaching out and recognizing that the organization was a key stakeholder on the issue.

Supervisors Carole Groom and Adrienne Tissier, who carried the legislation, recognized CAA Tri-County’s collaboration with the county in a memo to the board.

Related coverage:

• San Mateo County bans smoking inside apartments, condos and townhomes (MercuryNews.com)