Where You Can Smoke or Vape, Province by Province

British Columbia

Main laws

Main laws are the Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Act and its Regulation, plus the E-Substances Regulation under the Public Health Act. Source

Indoor public places and workplaces

People cannot smoke or vape inside indoor public places or workplaces. Source

Patios

Smoking or vaping is allowed on an outdoor hospitality patio within a buffer zone only when no open windows, doors or active air intakes connect it to the venue. Source

Doorways

Smoking and vaping are banned in a six-metre buffer zone around doorways, air intakes and open windows. Source

Playgrounds, sports fields and schools

Smoking and vaping are banned on all school property 24 hours a day, including sports fields and parking lots; no provincial playground ban is stated. Source

Vehicles with children

It is a Motor Vehicle Act violation to smoke or vape in a personal vehicle when someone under 16 is inside. Source

Vaping in smoke-free places

BC applies the same smoke-free rules to vaping as to smoking. Source

Flavours

Only age-restricted (19+) stores may sell flavoured e-substances; all-ages stores may sell only tobacco-flavoured ones, and federal Schedule 3 flavours are banned everywhere. Source

Retail display and promotion

Tobacco retailers need a Tobacco Retailer Authorization certificate for each location. Source

Not yet confirmed from an official page: rental housing.

Alberta

Main laws

The main statute is the Tobacco, Smoking and Vaping Reduction Act, SA 2005, c T-3.8, with a regulation. Source

Indoor public places and workplaces

No person may smoke or vape in a workplace, a public place or a public vehicle. Source

Patios

The Act defines restaurant and licensed premises to include outdoor eating or drinking areas operated with the premises, so they fall under the public-place ban. Source

Playgrounds, sports fields and schools

Smoking and vaping are banned on hospital, child care and school property, and in or within a prescribed distance of playgrounds, sports fields, skateboard/bike parks, zoos, outdoor theatres and public outdoor pools. Source

Vehicles with children

Smoking and vaping are banned in a vehicle in which a minor (under 18) is present; no fine range was confirmed. Source

Vaping in smoke-free places

The Act's prohibitions apply to both smoking and vaping. Source

Flavours

Section 7.41 of the Act bans selling a flavoured vaping product but defines that term as a vaping product designated as flavoured under the regulations; AR 240/2007 (amended to AR 100/2026) designates none, so no list of banned vape flavours is in force. Flavoured tobacco is banned under s. 7.4. Bill 208 (2026) would change the vape definition but is not law. Source

Retail display and promotion

Alberta restricts advertising, display and promotion of tobacco and vaping products in convenience stores and gas stations. Source

Rental housing

The Act's public-place definition includes common areas of multi-unit residential facilities, including patios, pools and enclosed parking garages. Source

Not yet confirmed from an official page: doorways.

Saskatchewan

Main laws

The governing laws are The Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Act and The Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Regulations. Source

Indoor public places and workplaces

Smoking and vaping are banned in enclosed public places, defined as any part of a building or other enclosed place or conveyance. Source

Doorways

Smoking and vaping are not permitted within 3 metres of a doorway, window or air intake of an enclosed public place. Source

Playgrounds, sports fields and schools

All tobacco and vapour products are banned at all times in schools and on any grounds owned by schools; playground rules were not found. Source

Vehicles with children

Smoking and vaping are banned in vehicles with passengers under 16; a 220 dollar charge is stated for the vehicle offence. Source

Vaping in smoke-free places

Saskatchewan's enclosed-public-place and vehicle bans apply to both smoking and vaping. Source

Flavours

Since Sept 1, 2021 most flavoured vapour products may be sold only in adult-only specialty vape shops; stores open to under-19s may sell only tobacco and mint/menthol-flavoured vapour products. Source

Rental housing

Enclosed public places under the Act include common areas of multi-unit residential buildings. Source

Not yet confirmed from an official page: patios.

Manitoba

Main laws

The main provincial statute is The Smoking and Vapour Products Control Act, alongside federal law and municipal by-laws such as Winnipeg By-law 62/2011. Source

Indoor public places and workplaces

Smoking and vaping are banned in enclosed public places, indoor workplaces, group living facilities and public vehicles. Source

Patios

Smoking and vaping are not allowed on enclosed patios province-wide; Winnipeg additionally bans them on outdoor patios. Source

Doorways

Manitoba's page gives an 8 metre rule only for outdoor entrances to health care facilities in Winnipeg; no general province-wide doorway distance is stated. Source

Playgrounds, sports fields and schools

Smoking and vaping are banned on the beaches and playgrounds of provincial parks, and on playgrounds in Winnipeg. Source

Vehicles with children

Smoking and vaping are banned in a vehicle where a child under 16 is present. Source

Vaping in smoke-free places

Manitoba's smoke-free rules cover both smoking and vaping in the listed places. Source

Rental housing

Manitoba's page says smoking is never allowed in a building's common areas and that tenants may appeal to the Residential Tenancies Branch. Source

Not yet confirmed from an official page: flavours.

Ontario

Main laws

The Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 is the main law on tobacco, vaping and smoke-free places; the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 covers eviction for smoking disturbance. Source

Indoor public places and workplaces

Smoking and vaping are banned in enclosed workplaces (even when closed) and enclosed public places. Source

Patios

Smoking and vaping are banned on bar and restaurant patios and in public areas within 9 metres of them, with a limited exception for certain older patios. Source

Doorways

Ontario sets a 9-metre no-smoking zone around hospital, long-term care and similar health facility entrances and exits; no general doorway distance was found on the page. Source

Playgrounds, sports fields and schools

Smoking and vaping are banned on school grounds, children's playgrounds, publicly owned sports areas and in public areas within 20 metres of them; golf courses are excluded. Source

Vehicles with children

Smoking tobacco or vaping is banned in a vehicle when anyone aged 15 or younger is inside; convictions carry fines of $1,000 (first) and $5,000 (further). Source

Vaping in smoke-free places

The same smoke-free rules apply to vaping (activated e-cigarettes) as to smoking. Source

Flavours

Flavoured vapour products cannot be sold in retail stores other than specialty vape stores (or licensed cannabis stores); menthol, mint and tobacco flavours are excepted. Source

Retail display and promotion

Tobacco and vapour products must be hidden from view until purchased and cannot be promoted in retail stores. Source

Rental housing

Ontario's RTA lets a landlord apply to evict a tenant whose smoking interferes with other tenants' reasonable enjoyment; the page does not state a general landlord ban on in-unit smoking. Source

Quebec

Indoor public places and workplaces

Smoking is generally banned in enclosed places open to the public and in workplaces, including restaurants, bars and educational institutions, with exceptions. Source

Patios

Smoking is banned on terraces and other outdoor areas operated as part of a commercial activity and set up for rest, relaxation or the consumption of products. Source

Doorways

Smoking is banned outdoors within a nine-metre radius of any door, air vent or openable window communicating with an enclosed place where smoking is prohibited. Source

Playgrounds, sports fields and schools

Smoking is banned in outdoor play areas intended for children that are open to the public, and within nine metres of their perimeter; it is also banned on sports fields and playgrounds used by minors and open to the public. Source

Vehicles with children

Smoking in a vehicle is prohibited when a person under 16 is present. Source

Vaping in smoke-free places

Quebec's smoking rules include vaping. Source

Not yet confirmed from an official page: main laws, flavours, retail display and promotion, rental housing.

New Brunswick

No rules for New Brunswick have been confirmed from an official page yet.

Not yet confirmed from an official page: main laws, indoor public places and workplaces, patios, doorways, playgrounds, sports fields and schools, vehicles with children, vaping in smoke-free places, flavours, retail display and promotion, rental housing.

Nova Scotia

Flavours

Nova Scotia announced a ban on flavoured e-cigarettes taking effect April 1 (2020); flavoured tobacco ban under Tobacco Access Act only seen in search summary. Source

Not yet confirmed from an official page: main laws, indoor public places and workplaces, patios, doorways, playgrounds, sports fields and schools, vehicles with children, vaping in smoke-free places, retail display and promotion, rental housing.

Prince Edward Island

Flavours

PEI banned flavoured electronic smoking devices (vaping products) in 2021; the regulations treat any agent giving an aroma or taste other than tobacco as a prescribed flavouring agent. Source

Not yet confirmed from an official page: main laws, indoor public places and workplaces, patios, doorways, playgrounds, sports fields and schools, vehicles with children, vaping in smoke-free places, retail display and promotion, rental housing.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Main laws

Tobacco and vaping sales are governed by the Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Act (SNL 1993, c T-4.1); smoke-free places by the Smoke-free Environment Act, 2005. Source

Indoor public places and workplaces

Smoking and e-cigarette use are prohibited in indoor public places and workplaces. Source

Playgrounds, sports fields and schools

All school districts ban smoking and vaping on school property, and municipalities over 500 residents have smoke-free policies for outdoor sport and recreation areas. Source

Vehicles with children

Smoking and e-cigarette use are banned in motor vehicles when anyone under 16 is present. Source

Vaping in smoke-free places

The Smoke-free Environment Act prohibits e-cigarette use in indoor public places, workplaces and vehicles with under-16s. Source

Flavours

Flavoured tobacco (including menthol) cannot be sold under s.3.4 of the Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Act; no restriction on flavoured vaping products was found. Source

Retail display and promotion

Tobacco and vapour products may not be displayed so customers can see them before purchase; tobacconist and vapour shops are exempt. Source

Not yet confirmed from an official page: patios, doorways, rental housing.

Yukon

Main laws

The Tobacco and Vaping Products Control and Regulation Act replaced the Smoke-Free Places Act and is in force. Source

Vaping in smoke-free places

Yukon's Act applies vaping restrictions similar to those already in place for tobacco, with signs reading no vaping as well as no smoking. Source

Not yet confirmed from an official page: indoor public places and workplaces, patios, doorways, playgrounds, sports fields and schools, vehicles with children, flavours, rental housing.

Northwest Territories

Main laws

The main statute is the Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Act (Bill 41); a companion Bill 40 covers smoking in public places. Source

Indoor public places and workplaces

Smoking is banned in any place the public has access to by right or invitation. Source

Playgrounds, sports fields and schools

Public places covered by the smoking ban include outdoor children's playgrounds and outdoor sports fields, courts and rinks. Source

Vehicles with children

Smoking is banned in motor vehicles where a person under 19 is present; the page gives 500 dollars for a first offence and up to 1,000 for later offences under the legislation generally. Source

Flavours

Since March 25, 2022 the sale of flavoured vapour products is banned; unflavoured and tobacco-flavoured vapour products may still be sold. Source

Retail display and promotion

Tobacco and vapour products cannot be promoted or displayed in stores where people under 19 have access. Source

Rental housing

Smoking is prohibited in the common areas of apartment buildings and condos. Source

Not yet confirmed from an official page: patios, doorways, vaping in smoke-free places.

Nunavut

Main laws

The Tobacco and Smoking Act (TSA) replaced the older Tobacco Control and Smoke-Free Places Act in 2023. Source

Indoor public places and workplaces

Smoking and vaping are banned in public buildings, workplaces and work vehicles, among other places. Source

Patios

Use is barred in outside spaces surrounding a restaurant or bar. Source

Doorways

A 9 metre buffer zone applies around any entrance or exit to a building. Source

Playgrounds, sports fields and schools

Playgrounds and sports or playing fields are smoke-free and vape-free areas. Source

Vehicles with children

Using tobacco, vapes or cannabis in a motorized vehicle with someone under 19 present is illegal. Source

Retail display and promotion

Retailers may not sell single cigarettes or sell tobacco and nicotine alternatives online or by home delivery. Source

Rental housing

Smoking, vaping and cannabis use are banned in Government of Nunavut staff and public housing. Source

Not yet confirmed from an official page: vaping in smoke-free places, flavours.