Problem/Objective: California has enacted statewide smoke-free workplace, prisons, doorways and playground laws. While statewide smoke-free beaches, cars and multi-unit housing legislation had been introduced in the last several years, all went down in defeat.

Methods: The California Department of Health Services Tobacco Control Section has made smoke-free multi-unit housing a priority for its funded programs, providing them with training and technical assistance opportunities through its Smoke-free Multi-Unit Housing Campaign, intended to increase the number of local smoke-free multi-unit housing ordinances

Results: As a result, momentum at the local level for this issue has been growing. Numerous ordinances, policies and resolutions have been passed in the last year to support smoke-free multi-unit housing, either declaring it a nuisance, or prohibiting smoking in indoor and outdoor common areas and units. Television, print and radio ads have been produced; local health departments' tobacco control programs, as part of their community needs assessment, are required to assess their communities on the number of apartment buildings that have smoke-free units; and efforts are underway to develop a tool kit of the best housing resources, for both affordable and market rate housing, for landlords, tenants and policy makers, and for apartments and condominiums.

Conclusions: Smoke-free housing is changing the social norms around tobacco control in California.