Pearland, TX Public Conduct: Outdoor Smoking Restrictions (2026)

Section 20-9 of the Code of Ordinances prohibits smoking, defined to include e-cigarettes and other electronic smoking devices, in any enclosed public place or workplace within the city, listing examples ranging from restaurants, retail stores and bars to lobbies, elevators and common areas of apartment buildings. Subsection (c)(3) extends the ban outdoors: a person commits an offense by smoking within 25 feet of an entrance, operable window or ventilation system of an enclosed area where smoking is barred, and subsection (e) restates that 25-foot buffer as the citywide minimum reasonable distance.

Subsection (d) separately bans smoking in the seating area of any outdoor arena, stadium or amphitheater. Subsection (f) applies the whole article to all city-owned facilities, including zoos, parks, playgrounds, golf courses, buildings and vehicles, though it exempts private boating on city lakes. Limited exceptions exist for a residential dwelling used exclusively as a residence, private vehicles not used for work, up to 20 percent of hotel or motel rooms designated as smoking rooms, and stand-alone retail tobacco stores where incidental product sales stay under 10 percent of gross sales and no alcohol is consumed.

The director of health and sanitation, fire department, police department, building inspections division, code enforcement officers and the city manager all share enforcement authority, and any citizen may report a violation directly to the health and sanitation director.