Outdoor smoking in Tacoma must stay 25 feet away from public-building doors, windows, and air intakes under Washington's Smoking in Public Places Act, and is banned outright in many city parks under Metro Parks Tacoma rules.
Washington's Smoking in Public Places Act, RCW 70.160, applies to Tacoma and bans smoking and electronic vaping within 25 feet of any entrance, exit, opening window, or ventilation intake of a place of employment or public place. Metro Parks Tacoma policy further prohibits smoking and vaping in many park areas, including playgrounds, sports fields, and beaches such as Owen Beach at Point Defiance. Smoke-shop and bar patios may permit smoking outdoors only when the 25-foot buffer is met. Cannabis use is regulated separately under the Washington Clean Indoor Air framework and the public-marijuana statute.
Smoking too close to a public-building entrance, vaping in a park, or lighting up on a no-smoking patio can result in a Washington civil infraction or a Metro Parks exclusion notice.
See how Tacoma's outdoor smoking restrictions rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.