Workplace Smoking Rules in Minnesota

Employers covered. Employers with one or more employees.

Written policy requirements. Employer policy not specified.

Posting requirements. Signs must be posted indicating which areas are designated as smoking areas and which areas are no-smoking areas.

No smoking areas. In Minnesota, smoking is prohibited in public places and public meetings except in designated smoking areas. Public places means any enclosed, indoor area used by the general public, including restaurants, retail stores, offices and other commercial establishments, public conveyances, educational facilities other than public schools, hospitals, nursing homes, auditoriums, arenas, meeting rooms and common areas of rental apartment buildings. Excluded from the definition of public places are private, enclosed offices occupied exclusively by smokers even though the offices may be visited by nonsmokers.

In workplaces such as factories, warehouses, and other places not usually frequented by the general public, smoking is restricted or prohibited where the close proximity of workers or the inadequacy of ventilation causes smoke pollution detrimental to the health and comfort of nonsmoking employees. Smoking is also prohibited in licensed day care centers, in a licensed family home or group family day care provided home, in health care facilities and in clinics except under certain, limited circumstances.

Designated smoking areas. To minimize the effects of smoke entering nonsmoking areas, existing barriers and ventilation must be used.