Tobacco Program

Be Tobacco Free!

Rockland County encourages residents to be tobacco and vape-free. The US Surgeon General considers tobacco to be the leading preventable cause of death in the United States and warns about the epidemic of vape use, especially in our youth.   In response, the County offers a Quit Smoking program to help residents break the habit and promotes State and County laws that are in place to protect our residents. The Clean Indoor Air Act (CIAA) protects us against secondhand smoke, the Multiple Dwelling Reporting Rule (MDRR) law helps protect renters in their apartments, and the New York State Adolescent Tobacco Use Prevention Act (ATUPA) laws regulate the sale of tobacco and vape products to help protect our youth.  

The health department enforces the New York State Clean Indoor Air Act (CIAA) as well as the Rockland County Sanitary Code. Pursuant to the regulations, the health department:

• investigates all indoor tobacco smoke complaints, including but not limited to residential, business, and commercial complaints.
• conducts routine survey investigations to determine compliance with the smoking prohibitions and the "no smoking" sign posting requirement. Violators are subject to administrative proceedings, including monetary penalties.
• reviews retail tobacco business ventilation systems plans as well as waiver requests.

The health department enforces the New York State Adolescent Tobacco Use Prevention Act (ATUPA). The health department:

• routinely conducts compliance checks at all retail tobacco facilities in the county to assure tobacco products are not sold to people under the age of 21. Compliance with signage, request for identification, location, and packaging of tobacco products requirements are also mandated. Violators are subject to administrative proceedings, including monetary penalties and the assignment of points as well as tobacco and lottery license suspension and/or revocation.
• investigates all tobacco complaints and conducts regular adult inspections focused on the education of tobacco retailers and collection of information regarding new tobacco products, such as electronic cigarettes.
• serves as the state liaison on special projects, including the eradication of the sale of synthetic cannabinoids and phenethylamines.

New York State Certified Tobacco Training is available free of charge for all tobacco retailers and any employees. Attendance at the training mitigates the points assigned in the event of a tobacco sale to a person under the age of 21. 

• 10/04/24 - PAL Parkway Service, Palisades Interstate Parkway, Orangeburg 
• 06/27/24 - Smoke Shop Chen; 116 Route 304, Bardonia 
• 03/21/24 - Stop N Go/Eckerson Deli Corp; 64 East Eckerson Rd, Spring Valley 
• 03/19/24 - Broadwayz Smoke Shop; 48 Broadway, Haverstraw 
• 03/18/24 - Hazy Joint Smoke Shop; 71 Route 9W, Piermont 
• 03/11/24 - Super Shop Food Stores; 115 Bridge St., Garnerville
• 03/07/24 - Cuna del Sol Latin Cuisine; 85 Ramapo Road, Garnerville 
• 02/22/24 - Quick Stop Deli; 28 Van Wyck Rd, Blauvelt 
• 02/15/24 - Pueblito Latino Grocery, 627 Main St., Sparkill
• 02/06/24 - Tobacco & Vape #1; 10 Orangetown Shopping Ctr, Orangeburg
• 12/07/23 - Spring Valley Supermarket; 210 North Main Street, Spring Valley
• 08/22/23 - Cloud 9 Vapes; Palisades Mall, 1st Floor, West Nyack
• 08/15/23 - Palisades News; Palisades Mall, 3rd Floor, West Nyack
• 07/12/23 - Express Auto Service; 233 South Main Street, New City
• 06/23/23 - Darth Vapor; 580 Route 303 #10, Blauvelt
• 06/06/23 - V&S Quick Mart; 19 Route 303, #23, Tappan
• 05/30/23 - YAS Quick Mart Inc.; 191 Route 59 Unit 1, Suffern
• 03/23/23 - Travel Smoke Shop Two; 106 Main Street, Nyack
• 03/23/23 - Nyack Smokers Corp; 21 Route 59, Nyack
• 03/02/23 - Valley Smoke and Novelty Shop; 35 North Main St., Spring Valley
• 02/17/23 - Finest Vapor Airmont; 191 Rt 59 Suite 10, Airmont
• 01/19/23 - 7-Eleven Spring Valley; 65 Kennedy Drive, Spring Valley
• 11/03/22 - Murray's New Deli; 80 Broadway, South Nyack
• 09/15/22 - Triple M Convenience; 48 Germonds Rd, New City
• 08/25/22 - In and Out Convenience Store; 309 North Main St., Spring Valley
• 08/15/22 - Spring Valley Food Mart; 168 North Main St., Spring Valley
• 07/07/22 - Open Every Day Convenience; 29 South Main Street, Spring Valley
• 01/31/22 - Exxon – Monsey; 165 Route 59, Monsey

The health department enforces the local law regulating smoking in multiple dwelling residences. Pursuant to the regulations, if the multiple dwelling complex has three (3) or more dwelling units, the owner must develop, implement, properly notify tenants, and post copies of the multiple dwelling smoking policy.

If the multiple dwelling complex has five (5) or more dwelling units, the owner must submit the smoking policy to the health department. The health department reviews all polices submitted and maintains a multiple dwelling registration database.

Routine surveys of multiple dwellings and investigations of all complaints are conducted in an effort to assure compliance with local law , state regulations, and the Rockland County Sanitary Code.

Violators are subject to administrative proceedings, including monetary penalties.

Please be advised all multiple dwelling complexes must also comply with the New York State Clean Indoor Air Act, Public Health Law, Article 13-E and the Rockland County Sanitary Code, Article XXII.

• Smoking Policy Forms

The health department offers a free program, led by a tobacco treatment specialist, that is available to anyone 18 years of age and older who lives, works, or attends college in Rockland County. The health department provides:

• ongoing support;
• behavior modification techniques;
• referral to the New York State Smokers Quitline to receive a two-week supply of nicotine replacement products, which can double your success at quitting smoking (if you are medically eligible).

One-on-One Program

• Up to four, 30-minute sessions with a tobacco treatment specialist
• Sessions meet over a six-week period

Mini-Group Program for Worksites

• Four-session
• Sessions meet over a period of five weeks
• At least three but no more than seven people
• Available over lunch break, before, or after work

You must pre-register for a program. Call us at (845) 364-2651 for more information and registration.

For additional assistance with quitting smoking contact the New York State Smokers Quitline or call 866-NY-QUITS (697-8487)

• New York State Certified Tobacco Training
• New York State Department of Health
• New York State Public Health Law, Article 13-E, Regulation of Smoking in Certain Public Areas
• New York State Public Health Law, Article 13-F, Regulation of Tobacco Products, Herbal Cigarettes and Smoking Paraphernalia; Distribution to Minors
• Rockland County Multiple Dwelling Smoking Policy Act, Article I, Smoking in Multiple Dwellings
• Rockland County Sanitary Code, Article XXII, Regulation of Smoking in Certain Public Areas
• Clean Indoor Air Waiver Application
• Clean Indoor Air Waiver Criteria
• Clean Indoor Air Waiver Instructions
• Multiple Dwelling Smoking Policy Form
• Multiple Dwelling Smoking Policy Registration
• Retail Tobacco Business Smoking Law Application
• New York State Smokers Quitline