What the law says...

Article 2: No exemptions from the strict ban on smoking in:
1. Kindergartens, schools and places for extracurricular activities - clubs, schools, study groups, etc.
2. Higher education institutions
3. Cultural institutions - cinemas, theatres, concert halls, art galleries, libraries, community centres (chitalishte) and others.
4. Internet clubs
5. Premises of food processing and commercial enterprises in which foods are stored, prepared, produced or sold, except for places in which the food is consumed.
6. Busses, trolleybuses, trams, subway cars, marshrutka taxis, and taxis - both for drivers and passengers.
7. Subway stations.
8. Bulgarian commercial passenger aircraft.
9. Lifts in all types of buildings.
10. Work premises.

Article 3: Enclosed public places in which smoking is permitted as an exception in specified areas are all buildings with free access - administrative buildings, accommodation buildings, places for consumption of food in public nutrition and entertainment establishments, health enterprises, sports, commercial, and other places as well as in some means of public transport.

Part 2 - Conditions in which smoking is allowed as an exception

Article 4
Paragraph 1: Smoking in enclosed public places mentioned in Article 3 is allowed under the condition that this takes place in specified areas.
Paragraph 2: Specified area is:
1) A specially designated room, which has mechanical ventilation and a permanent sign on the door saying “Smoking Room”.
2) A part of the premises of a public nutrition and entertainment establishment with less than 60 seats.

Article 5
Paragraph 1: Areas mentioned in Article 4, paragraph 2, point 1 have to comply with the following conditions:
1. To have mechanical ventilation, which provides tenfold air circulation per hour through air suction and works during the entire working hours of the establishment. If there is no technical possibility for the construction of such ventilation, natural ventilation is allowed as an exception.
2. The areas must be described in an order by the person using the premises.

Paragraph 2: The tenant of the premises provides for the efficient functioning and the technical maintenance of the mechanical ventilation.

Paragraph 3: Smoking areas may not include lobbies, stairwells, hallways and sanitary premises.

Article 6
Paragraph 1: In the specified areas mentioned in Article 4, paragraph 2, point 2, the number of seats for smokers cannot exceed half of the total number of seats.

Paragraph 2: The tables in the area under paragraph 1 must be designated with a sign “Smoking Table”.

Article 7
Paragraph 1: In public nutrition and entertainment establishments with more than 60 seats, smoking is allowed only in separate rooms marked clearly as “Smoking Hall”.

Paragraph 2: The number of seats for smokers in the hall cannot exceed half of the total number of seats.

Article 8: Public nutrition and entertainment establishments in which there is a specified smoking zone and those with separate smoking halls, must have mechanical ventilation which provides not less than 40 sq m of fresh air an hour for each place, and this must be switched on during working hours.

Article 9:In the areas specified in article 4, paragraph 2 and article 7, paragraph 1, persons under 18 years of age are not allowed.

Article 10
Paragraph 1: In places of accommodation, the number of rooms for smokers cannot exceed half the total number of rooms.

Paragraph 2: The doors of rooms in which smoking is forbidden must be permanently marked as such.

Article 11
Paragraph 1: In passenger trains, no more than half the carriages can be designated as smoking.
Paragraph 2: If there is only one carriage with reserved seats, it cannot be designated as a smoking carriage.
Paragraph 3: Non-smoking passenger carriages must be clearly and permanently marked.
Paragraph 4: In sleeping carriages as well as in trains with only one carriage, smoking compartments must be designated. Smoking in hallways and sanitary rooms is forbidden.
Paragraph 5:  In dining carriages, a smoking area under Article 4, paragraph 2, point 2, must be designated. The number of seats for smokers cannot exceed half the total number of seats.

Article 12: In train stations, bus stations, seaports and airports, smoking is permitted in premises complying with Article 5.

Article 13
Paragraph 1: Smoking in enclosed areas in vessels is allowed only in rooms complying with Article 5.
Paragraph 2: The number of smoking cabins in passenger vessels cannot exceed half the total number of cabins.

Article 14: In office buildings, employers can define by an order designated rooms for smoking which must comply with Article 5.

Article 15
Paragraph 1: Tenants using premises under Article 3 and employers under Article 14 must once yearly have the efficiency of the ventilation system checked by a certified laboratory.
Paragraph 2: The protocols of the measurements are kept on the premises and shown to state hygiene inspectors at checkups.

Article 16: Responsibility for the observing of the current regulation is borne by:
1. Tenants of premises under articles 1 and 2.
2. Persons who are in enclosed public spaces.
3. Employers
4. Employees in the enclosed work areas.