Smoking Areas at Canada Airports

Canadian airports keep smoking outdoors, in designated areas outside the terminal. Toronto Pearson marks them on all levels of Terminals 1 and 3, Vancouver has them on the Level 3 departures curb and at arrivals, Calgary uses Doors 1, 7 and 17 on both levels, Edmonton Doors 1, 10, 25 and 30, Ottawa the north end of Level 1 by Parking Lot 02, Montréal-Trudeau both curbsides, Winnipeg both ends of the terminal building, Halifax an area outside the terminal building, Kelowna a north-end terminal seating area and a covered spot in short-term parking, Victoria two shelters in the short-term parking lot, Québec City two outdoor areas at least 9 metres from the doors, and Toronto’s Billy Bishop a single outdoor area near Arrivals. None of them has a confirmed indoor or after-security smoking room, so smoke before you clear screening. Select an airport below for terminal-specific locations, regulations, and tips.

Canada Airports Compared: Indoor, Outdoor & After Security

At a glance — which Canada airports let you smoke after security, in an indoor room, or in an outdoor area:

Airport	After security	Indoor room	Outdoor area
Smoking at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport – YTZ	–	–	Yes
Calgary International Airport (YYC)	–	–	Yes
Smoking at Edmonton Airport – YEG	–	–	Yes
Smoking at Halifax Stanfield International Airport – YHZ	–	–	Yes
Smoking at Kelowna International Airport – YLW	–	–	Yes
Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL)	–	–	Yes
Smoking at Ottawa Airport – YOW	–	–	Yes
Smoking at Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport – YQB	–	–	Yes
Pearson International Airport (YYZ)	–	–	Yes
Vancouver International Airport (YVR)	–	–	Yes
Smoking at Victoria International Airport – YYJ	–	–	Yes
Smoking at Winnipeg Richardson International Airport – YWG	–	–	Yes

Canada Airport Smoking Regulations

Canada banned smoking in all federally regulated workplaces, including airports, under the Non-smokers’ Health Act and Tobacco and Vaping Products Act. All Canadian airports enforce a strict indoor smoking ban with no exceptions. Smoking is permitted only in designated outdoor areas, typically at least 9 metres (approximately 30 feet) from entrances; the exact distance varies by province. Provincial laws add additional restrictions: Ontario requires 9 metres from building entrances, British Columbia requires 6 metres, and Quebec requires 9 metres under its Tobacco Control Act. Municipal bylaws can be stricter still — Richmond, which covers Vancouver’s Sea Island, sets 9 metres — and Alberta’s Tobacco, Smoking and Vaping Reduction Act plus the City of Calgary bylaw govern the marked areas at Calgary and Edmonton. E-cigarettes and vaping devices are subject to the same distance restrictions. Manitoba’s Smoking and Vapour Products Control Act separately bars smoking or vaping cannabis in outdoor public places unless a specific regulation permits it, so an airport like Winnipeg (YWG), which has published no such exemption, defaults to tobacco and e-cigarettes only in its designated areas. Cannabis rules are set airport by airport where the airport itself has published one: Toronto Pearson, Montréal-Trudeau, Ottawa and Halifax prohibit it anywhere on the property; Calgary and Edmonton permit medical cannabis in the designated outdoor areas with valid documentation; and Vancouver (YVR) officially permits cannabis in its designated outdoor smoking areas.

Canada Airports Covered

Last updated: September 4, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you smoke at Canadian airports?

Yes — at designated outdoor smoking areas. Canada bans smoking in all federally regulated workplaces including airports under the Non-Smokers’ Health Act and the Tobacco and Vaping Products Act. Smoking is permitted in designated outdoor areas, typically 6 to 9 metres (20 to 30 feet) from terminal entrances. The exact distance depends on the province: Ontario requires 9 m, British Columbia 6 m, Quebec 9 m. Local bylaws can go further — Richmond, which covers Vancouver’s Sea Island, sets 9 m.

Which Canadian airport has the best smoking facilities?

Toronto Pearson (YYZ) is the easiest to work with — around ten marked outdoor areas spread across every level of both Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, painted on the ground and on the curbside columns, so there is one near whichever door you use. Vancouver International (YVR) has designated outdoor areas on the Level 3 departures curb and at the arrivals level of the Main Terminal, and is the one Canadian airport that also permits cannabis in them. Calgary (YYC) concentrates its six areas at Doors 1, 7 and 17 on both levels, and Montréal-Trudeau (YUL) marks areas along the departures and arrivals curbsides.

Are e-cigarettes and vaping allowed at Canadian airports?

Yes — vaping is treated identically to smoking under federal and provincial law, so use the designated outdoor smoking areas, never inside the terminal. Cannabis rules are set airport by airport: Toronto Pearson, Montréal-Trudeau, Ottawa and Halifax prohibit cannabis smoking and vaping anywhere on airport property; Calgary and Edmonton allow medical cannabis in their designated outdoor areas with documentation; and Vancouver (YVR) is the one airport that officially permits cannabis in the same designated outdoor smoking areas.

Can I smoke during a Canadian airport layover?

Yes — by exiting the secure zone, smoking outdoors, and re-clearing security. This is realistic for layovers of three hours or more. Toronto Pearson and Vancouver are both large enough that the round trip from gate to outdoor area and back can take 60 to 90 minutes once security wait times are factored in. For shorter layovers, plan to wait until your destination.