Tri City Rentals has announced that 2,739 apartment homes across ten properties in the Rochester area are now completely smoke-free. This step is part of the company’s broader initiative to create healthier living environments for residents.
The policy, which became fully effective in September 2025, bans smoking and vaping inside all apartments and within a 50-foot radius of all buildings for employees. The measure now applies to every Tri City Rentals community in Rochester, aiming to improve air quality and safety for thousands of residents.
Tri City Rentals first revealed its plan for smoke-free housing in May 2024. The company introduced the change gradually by adding smoke-free clauses to new and renewed leases. During this process, management worked with residents to provide early notice, clear communication, and resources to help with the transition.
Concerns about secondhand smoke exposure in multi-unit housing were a key factor behind the decision. According to the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), as much as 65% of air in an apartment can come from other units, allowing secondhand smoke to travel between homes. ASHRAE states: “the only means of avoiding health effects and eliminating indoor environmental tobacco smoke exposure is to ban all smoking activity inside and near buildings.”
Lindsay Kremers, Community Engagement Lead at the Smoking and Health Action Coalition of Livingston and Monroe Counties, said: “As local tobacco control specialists who focus on smoke-free policies, our program is thrilled to see Tri City Rentals prioritizing the health of its tenants by expanding smoke-free living environments. There is no safe level of secondhand smoke exposure, and eliminating this exposure significantly improves the health, wellness, and safety of residents, visitors, and employees.”
Julie Massry Knox, Director of Marketing at Tri City Rentals added: “This milestone reflects our ongoing commitment to the well-being of our residents and employees. Creating smoke-free communities helps protect health, reduce safety risks, and support cleaner, more enjoyable living environments for everyone who calls a Tri City Rentals community home.”
Knox also noted: “In addition to protecting residents from secondhand smoke exposure, smoke-free housing policies help reduce fire risk, lower maintenance and turnover costs, and enhance overall community appeal. Tri City Rentals’ policy aligns with a growing national movement among property owners and managers who recognize the public health, environmental, and operational benefits of smoke-free housing.”
The Smoking and Health Action Coalition (SHAC) operates as part of a statewide effort funded by New York State’s Bureau of Tobacco Control through programs run by organizations such as the American Lung Association. The American Lung Association works nationwide through local offices on initiatives that address lung diseases including asthma and COPD while promoting education about lung health (https://www.lung.org). The organization supports research into lung disease treatment and prevention (https://www.lung.org), advocates for policies aimed at improving air quality while reducing tobacco use (https://www.lung.org), receives high ratings for fiscal responsibility (https://www.lung.org), and is led by President Harold Wimmer (https://www.lung.org).
Tri City Rentals manages properties throughout New York State including 26 communities in the Capital Region along with nine in Greater Buffalo.
For more information about SHAC or Tri City Rentals’ policies visit their respective websites.
