Leave the cigarette at the door! That’s the policy the Osceola County Health Department is encouraging apartment complexes throughout the area to adopt.

Some already have smoke-free policies, like Emerson in Celebration.

“It’s kind of a situation where people can just enjoy their space and not have to worry about the air they are breathing,” Jen Patterson with Emerson said.

While the health department isn’t offering any incentives for complexes to go tobacco free, they are spreading the word about what harm can come from second-hand and primary smoking.

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According to the Osceola County Health Department, tobacco smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals. At least 70 of those are known to cause cancer.

Aside from the health effects, the department says smoke-free policies are becoming popular because more people expect to live in a smoke-free environment.

“You can’t smoke walking down the street or even in your vehicle here. So I do see it becoming a trend because a lot of people do come here and say that’s what they are looking for,” Patterson said.

For property owners, there are also benefits because properties where people did not smoke required fewer repairs and repainting, so it took less time and money to get them ready for a new tenant.

Although the health department’s goal is to improve the health of those dependent on more affordable rental housing, the local realtor association said it’s a fine line between providing a healthy living environment and isolating those who smoke.

Recently they have even seen a new trend where places are posted as smoke-free.