The Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017, regulates smoking and vaping to protect Ontarians from tobacco, vaping products, and second-hand smoke.
The Smoke-Free Ontario Act (SFOA), 2017, regulates the smoking of tobacco products, the use of electronic cigarettes to vape any substance, and the smoking of cannabis to protect the people of Ontario, especially youth, from the harms of tobacco, the harms of vaping products, and the harms of second-hand smoke. If you smoke or vape where it is not allowed, you may be charged with an offence and subject to a fine, if convicted. The SFOA, 2017 also regulates the sale and supply of tobacco and vapour products (e.g., e-cigarettes, including heat-not-burn devices, e-cigarette components, and e-substances), and the display and promotion of tobacco products, tobacco product accessories, and vaping products. For information about the SFOA, 2017, and rules for surrounding selling tobacco and vapour products, please visit:
Learn where smoking or vaping is and is not permitted in Ontario:
Learn about requirements for tobacco and vape retailers:
The Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017, now requires tobacco and specialty vape shops to register with their local public health unit. Please visit Notification to Public Health of Business Opening, Reopening or Renovation page for information on the registration process.
Under the Town of Oakville By-Law #2021-028 if a tobacco/electronic cigarette retailer is convicted for contravening with the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017, the retailer’s licence may be suspended and/or revoked. For questions related to this by-law, please contact Town of Oakville By-Law Office at 905-845-6601.
Halton Region Public Health conducts compliance inspection of retail establishments that sell tobacco and/or vapour products. In addition, Halton Region Public Health conducts tobacco and vapour product test shopping on each tobacco and vapour retailer for compliance with the ban on sale to persons under 19.
Halton Region Public Health employs a balance of education, inspection, and progressive enforcement. Progressive enforcement may include education, warnings, tickets, and summons. Charges will be considered for continued non-compliance.
Prospective buyers of tobacco retail dealer premises are strongly encouraged to contact the local Public Health Unit to confirm premises conviction history. A premises with two or more tobacco sales convictions against any owner (past or present) at that address within a five-year period is subject to a Notice of Prohibition Against the Sale, Storage and Delivery of Tobacco Products (known as an automatic prohibition or “AP”).
Section 22 of the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 (SFOA, 2017) states that upon becoming aware that there are two or more convictions against any owner for tobacco sales offences committed at the same place within a five-year period, the Ministry of Health (MOH) shall notify the owner(s) or occupant of the place that the sale, storage, and delivery of tobacco products is prohibited at the place.
The MOH accepts requests from Public Health Units for automatic prohibitions where owner(s) of the business was/were convicted of tobacco sales offences on two occasions within a five year period. The SFOA, 2017 convictions report published on Public Health Units’ websites lists all owner related tobacco sales convictions that are eligible for an automatic prohibition. Please note that automatic prohibitions do not apply to vapour products sales convictions.