Many states have passed statewide bans on smoking in enclosed public places, including restaurants and bars. Other states have enacted statewide smoking bans that include exceptions for certain businesses and workplaces—such as cigar bars, tobacco shops, and private clubs.

Some cities and towns have enacted ordinances (laws) that restrict smoking in restaurants and bars—and some cities and towns extend public smoking bans outdoors to sidewalks, apartment complexes, and other public spaces where nonsmokers may congregate, for example.

Violations of these smoking bans may be prosecuted as misdemeanor criminal offenses and include hundreds of dollars of potential fines.

In Oregon, smoking is regulated by the Oregon Indoor Clean Air Act (ICAA), which prohibits smoking in most public places and workplaces, including restaurants and bars, with the aim of protecting individuals from secondhand smoke. The ICAA requires that enclosed areas at places of employment and public places be smoke-free. There are a few exceptions to this rule, such as smoke shops and cigar bars that are specifically exempted. Additionally, Oregon law allows local governments to enact more restrictive smoking ordinances. For example, some cities in Oregon have extended smoking bans to include outdoor areas like sidewalks near business entrances and public parks. Violations of the ICAA can result in fines and are considered Class A violations. The enforcement of the smoking bans is carried out by the Oregon Health Authority and local public health authorities.