Cambridge, MA Public Conduct: Outdoor Smoking Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Municipal Code Section 8.28.090(A)
- Restricted parks
- Public parks under 15,000 sq ft, fenced tot lots
- Restaurant patios
- Smoking banned; e-cigs/hookah allowed except sidewalks
- Individual fine
- $100 per violation under Section 8.28.100
- Establishment fine
- Up to $300 for repeat offenses
- Full park list
- Published at Section 8.28.085
Summary
Cambridge bans smoking in any 'public park restricted area,' meaning fenced tot lots and public outdoor parks under 15,000 square feet, plus every municipal vehicle, under Section 8.28.090(A). Restaurant outdoor seating is smoke-free too, except that e-cigarettes, hookah, and water pipes are allowed there but never on public sidewalk seating.
A.Smoking prohibited. No person shall smoke nor shall any person be permitted to smoke in any public place, municipal vehicle, or public park restricted area. ... Public park restricted area. Any public outdoor parks of less than 15,000 square feet, fenced-in tot lots, and all public open space including athletic fields in use during City-permitted events, to which the public is invited and permitted. See section 8.28.085 for a complete listing of public park restricted areas within the City. ... A.Smoking Prohibited. No person shall smoke (including using e-cigarettes), nor shall any person be permitted to smoke (including using e-cigarettes) in any restaurant, except that e-cigarette, hookah and water pipe use shall be permitted in any restaurant outdoor seating area other than on public sidewalk seating areas.
Full Breakdown
085 listing the specific parks and plazas covered, including tot lots at Cambridge Common, Danehy Park, and dozens of neighborhood playgrounds citywide. Larger open parks like Fresh Pond Reservation and most City plazas, including Harvard Square, are marked 'Allowed' on that list, so the outdoor ban is narrower than a park-wide ban; it targets small parks and areas where children gather. 110's definition. The only carve-out is that e-cigarette, hookah, and water pipe use is allowed in a restaurant's outdoor seating area, but never on public sidewalk seating. 120(B). 090(B).
Violations & Fines
Smoking in a restricted park, municipal vehicle, or public place under Section 8.28.090 draws a one-hundred-dollar fine for an individual, or an escalating establishment fine up to three hundred dollars for a third offense within twenty-four months, under Section 8.28.100. Restaurant smoking violations under Section 8.28.120 carry the same one-hundred-to-three-hundred-dollar escalation under Section 8.28.130, enforced by Police, License Commission, Public Health, and Inspectional Services staff.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I smoke in a Cambridge park?
Is smoking allowed on restaurant patios in Cambridge?
What is the fine for smoking in a restricted Cambridge park?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cambridge
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Outdoor Smoking Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle outdoor smoking restrictions.