Exempted Areas. [Effective on January 1, 2021. See Version Effective Until January 1, 2021.]

  1. Law
  2. Tennessee Code
  3. Criminal Offenses
  4. Offenses Against Public Health, Safety and Welfare
  5. Non-Smoker Protection Act
  6. Exempted Areas. [Effective on January 1, 2021. See Version Effective Until January 1, 2021.]

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Notwithstanding any other provision of this part to the contrary, the following areas shall be exempt from §39-17-1803:

  1. Age-restricted venues;
  2. Hotel and motel rooms that are rented to guests and are designated as smoking rooms; provided, that no more than twenty-five percent (25%) of rooms rented to guests in a hotel or motel may be so designated. All smoking rooms on the same floor shall be contiguous and smoke from these rooms shall not infiltrate into areas where smoking is prohibited pursuant to this part;
  3. All premises of any manufacturer, importer, or wholesaler of tobacco products, all premises of any tobacco leaf dealer or processor, and all tobacco storage facilities;
    1. Nonenclosed areas of public places, including:
      1. Open air patios, porches or decks;
      2. Any area enclosed by garage type doors on one (1) or more sides when all those doors are completely open; and
      3. Any area enclosed by tents or awnings with removable sides or vents when all those sides or vents are completely removed or open;
    2. Smoke from those nonenclosed areas shall not infiltrate into areas where smoking is prohibited pursuant to this part;
  5. Nursing homes and long-term care facilities licensed pursuant to title 68, chapter 11; provided, that this exemption shall only apply to residents of those facilities and that resident smoking practices shall be governed by the policies and procedures established by those facilities. Smoke from such areas shall not infiltrate into areas where smoking is prohibited pursuant to this part;
  6. Private businesses with three (3) or fewer employees where, in the discretion of the business owner, smoking may be allowed in an enclosed room not accessible to the general public. Smoke from that room shall not infiltrate into areas where smoking is prohibited pursuant to this part;
  7. Private clubs; provided, that this exemption shall not apply to any entity that is established solely for the purpose of avoiding compliance with this part;
  8. Private homes, private residences and private motor vehicles, unless those homes, residences and motor vehicles are being used for child care or day care or unless the private vehicle is being used for the public transportation of children or as part of health care or day care transportation;
  9. Retail tobacco stores that prohibit persons under twenty-one (21) years of age on their premises; and
  10. Commercial vehicles when the vehicle is occupied solely by the operator.


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