November 2015

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has proposed a rule this week that would require all Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) within 18 months to develop policies to ban smoking combustible tobacco products in federally owned public housing units. The proposed rule expands on HUD's existing policy of encouraging PHAs to ban smoking in public housing. To date, 612 PHAs (approximately 20 percent of PHAs) have voluntarily implemented smoke free policies. If finalized, the HUD policy would expand to all PHAs.

The proposed rule covers combustible tobacco products (cigarettes, cigars, pipes) but does not extend to non-combustible tobacco products (e-cigarettes). If implemented, the ban would apply to federally owned public housing units but would not apply to mixed-finance public housing or Section 8 housing subsidy programs.

The proposed rule is open for public comment for 60 days. The ATS will review and comment on the proposed HUD rule.