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

Code of Ordinances § 22-242(a) makes it an offense to smoke in any indoor or enclosed area in the city, within 15 feet of any entrance to an indoor or enclosed area, or in any area an owner has designated and signed as nonsmoking. Subsection (b) also makes an owner, operator, or person in control of an indoor or enclosed area guilty if they, personally or through an employee, permit someone to smoke there. Covered indoor and enclosed areas explicitly include elevators, hospitals and nursing homes, city-owned or -managed facilities, retail and service establishments, workplaces, and schools, theaters, libraries, museums, and transit vehicles (§ 22-242(c)).

A handful of defenses apply: private residences (unless used as a licensed child or health care facility), television and film production sets, cigar bars and bars that were already lawfully operating as such on February 3, 2009 and have not expanded, relocated, or changed majority ownership since, tobacco shops, designated smoking guest rooms in hotels, and unenclosed outdoor seating areas tied to a bar, hotel, or restaurant, unless that seating sits next to a children's play area or has itself been posted nonsmoking (§ 22-242(d)-(e)).

Owners of a covered area must post a conspicuous sign at the main entrance reading 'No Smoking, City of Rowlett Ordinance' or an equivalent, and a separate sign at each entrance reading 'No Smoking within 15 Feet of Entrance, City of Rowlett Ordinance,' plus remove all ashtrays from the smoke-free area (§ 22-243). The 15-foot entrance buffer is enforced without regard to whether the underlying building itself allows smoking, so a bar exempted under the cigar-bar or pre-2009 defense can still be cited if smoking occurs within 15 feet of its own front door.