SMOKEFREE KNOXVILLE — Smokefree Tennessee

Smokefree Knoxville is a volunteer-driven, community-based partnership working to protect the right to a smokefree environment—for everyone.

Bringing together Knoxville-based musicians, hospitality workers, public health organizations, healthcare organizations, clinicians, anti-drug activists, and local businesses and venues to create smokefree workplaces for all Knoxvillians.

In the spring of 2026, Smokefree Knoxville led a multi-organization advocacy campaign in support of a comprehensive smokefree ordinance, which passed 6-3, finally guaranteeing that Knoxville musicians, hospitality workers, city employees, and more no longer have to sacrifice their health for a paycheck.

Thank you to the sponsors of the smokefree ordinance!

The ordinance was sponsored and passed by city counselors from across the entire political spectrum, showing that protecting the health of our community is an effort that unites people of all backgrounds and perspectives. We are deeply thankful to the sponsors and to those counselors who voted in favor of the ordinance to protect the health of all workers in Knoxville.

On January 1, 2027, the ordinance goes into effect, banning indoor smoking in Knoxville.

This ordinance has been several years in the making. Since the Nonsmoker’s Protection Act passed in 2007, a vast majority of Tennesseans enjoyed the protection and guarantee of a smoke-free workplace—except for hospitality workers, musicians, HVAC technicians, city employees and other similar workers behind. This was due to a legal tool called “preemption.” Put simply, the state law prohibited local governments from banning smoking in bars and other 21+ venues.

In the 2022 legislative session, SB2219/HB2705 by Knoxville’s own Senator Richard Briggs and Representative Michele Carringer passed with huge bipartisan support, giving local governments the right to more fully regulate indoor smoking.

And now, in 2026, Knoxville has finally guaranteed the right to a smokefree working environment for all.

FAQ

The ordinance eliminates INDOOR smoking/vaping inside certain 21+ establishments (bars/music venues).
Yes, this ordinance only regulates smoking indoors, so just like restaurants and other workplaces, smokers can step outside to smoke and venues can have smoking patios/decks.
Yes, the following establishments are exempt from local smokefree ordinances like this:
1. Cigar bars
2. Retail tobacco stores
3. Retail vapor stores
Until this passed, musicians, bartenders, servers, security staff, and other hospitality workers were the only major group of employees in Knoxville not guaranteed a smokefree workplace under the law. This ordinance closed that loophole and ensures workplace protections are consistent for all Knoxvillians.
This policy change was championed by Smokefree Knoxville, a broad coalition of organizations, businesses, faith leaders, musicians, and hospitality workers. Those include: the Knox County Community Health Council, Knox Music Coalition, Metro Drug Coalition, the Arts & Culture Alliance, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Musicians for a Smokefree TN, Prevention Alliance of Tennessee, New Direction Health Solutions, the Tennessee Theater, and many more.
This ordinance only applies within the city limits of Knoxville. Establishments outside the city but still inside the county would not be subject to this ordinance.
No. Over 1300 Cities across the country have adopted similar ordinances and NONE have reported any negative economic impact to businesses.
Yes, this applies to smoking and vaping indoors. It does not apply to retail vapor stores however. Most smokefree workplace ordinances include vaping and e-cigarettes because they produce airborne aerosols that affect workers and patrons similarly to secondhand smoke exposure.
This ordinance takes effect on January 1, 2027. This time can be used to educate patrons and also create an outdoor smoking area for those businesses that don’t already have one.