The day many feared has finally come to the District — the City Council this afternoon endorsed a smoking ban in restaurants on a 12-1 vote.

Bars and nightclubs may be spared, though, as the legislation merely requires that they install special ventilation equipment or arrange special accomodations for smokers by January 1, 2007. The legislation allows businesses to seek a hardship waiver, should they prove that the law decresed their sales by 25 percent. Council-member Jim Graham is seeking to allow exceptions for cigar stores and hookah bars.

The only dissenting vote on the measure was that of Carol Schwartz (R-At Large), a longtime opponent of the ban.

As more information becomes available, DCist will report on it.

Update: Initial news reports have been somewhat confused as to the details of the law. WTOP is reporting that the ban will cover all establishments, with an eye towards exemptions for cigar stores and hookah bars. They also write that some are hoping to push the law’s implementation up to July 2006. D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams has not expressed support or opposition to the law.