Where is smoking allowed in downtown Chicago? Anywhere indoors? What are the outdoor rules?

Answer 1

It's kind of weird. You can smoke anywhere that has alcohol as the majority of it's sales, e.g. a bar. Restaurants are a no go. You can pretty much smoke anywhere outside.

Answer 2

I believe the rule is that if the place is a bar/restaurant and a certain percent of their revenue comes from food, they have to comply with the no smoking law. Not sure what the percentage is (I think it's like 40 or 50 percent of their revenue comes from food), but places that are strictly bars are OK for now. I just went to one of my favorite places earlier this week, a bar that also serves food and they had removed all the ash trays. I stopped smoking three years ago, so it really didn't bother me, but I guess it took effect at the beginning of the year.

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COPYRIGHT 2005 United Press International

CHICAGO, Dec. 7 (UPI) -- The Chicago City Council overwhelmingly approved an ordinance Wednesday that would ban smoking in virtually all public places.

The measure passed 46-1 after members of the Finance Committee reached a compromise giving restaurants, bars and taverns 2 1/2 years to comply with the law, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

The anti-smoking ordinance takes effect Jan. 16.

"Chicago will be smoke-free," said Alderman Ed Smith. Supporters of the smoking ban stood in the council chamber applauding the vote.

The lone vote against the measure was cast by a North Side alderman who said suburbs permitted smoking in bars, and a tough anti-smoking law in Chicago would hurt local bars and businesses.

Smoking would be allowed in free-standing bars and taverns and within 15 feet of a restaurant bar until July 1, 2008. Establishments that installed air cleaning equipment that significantly improved air quality by venting smoke would be able to apply for an exemption to the smoking ban.

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as for smoking outside of a building, I work in the State of Illinois building and there are ashcans and people smoking right outside the door, less than 5 feet away. In addition, people are always smoking right outside the doors of City Hall, which is right across the street from where I work.

Answer 3

The previous answer is mostly correct. Bars have a couple of years to comply with the Smoking Ban. Some restaurants allow smoking within 10 feet of their bar, but generally restaurants are no smoking. You can smoke outside, but not within 10 feet of the entrance to a building (so you can't smoke in the doorway of the restaurant).
Tobacco stores (Cigar shops) allow smoking and are the only permanent exception to the Smoking Ban.