Charleston International Airport (CHS) has no smoking area anywhere on airport property, indoors or out. The campus policy bans smoking and vaping everywhere, so the nearest legal smoking is off airport property, beyond the terminal kerb and car parks.
Smoking Policy at Charleston Airport
Charleston International adopted a campus-wide policy effective 1 September 2021 that bans smoking and vaping everywhere on the property. It covers the terminal, the exterior, sidewalks, curbside, rest areas, shuttles, the public and employee parking lots, and the other Airport Authority buildings on the site — cigarettes, cigars, pipes, vapes and puff bars alike — so there are no designated outdoor smoking areas anywhere on the property. The Charleston County Aviation Authority Police enforce it, with fines for violations, so plan to leave the campus entirely if you need to smoke.
How Charleston Airport Is Laid Out
CHS has a single terminal with two concourses: A and B. The terminal went through a significant expansion and renovation, so the facilities are modern and well-maintained. The upper level handles departures and ticketing, while the lower level covers arrivals and baggage claim. The concourses extend from a central post-security area, and the overall footprint is compact enough that walking from the farthest gate to the terminal exit takes about 10 minutes.
Concourse A
Smoking areas: None. Smoking is banned throughout Concourse A and the rest of the campus.
After security: No smoking areas available.
Concourse B
Smoking areas: None. Like Concourse A, Concourse B has no smoking area, and neither does the rest of the airport campus.
After security: No smoking areas available.
E-Cigarettes and Vaping
Plan to vape off airport property, the same as for cigarettes. The campus-wide policy explicitly covers e-cigarettes, vapes and puff bars alongside cigarettes, cigars and pipes, so every electronic nicotine delivery device falls under the same rule everywhere on CHS property.
Summary
| Area | Smoking Allowed | Location Details |
|---|---|---|
| Inside terminal | No | Campus-wide policy, no smoking anywhere |
| Concourse A | No | No smoking after security |
| Concourse B | No | No smoking after security |
| Outside – curbside / parking | No | Smoking and vaping banned on all airport property |
| Vaping/e-cigarettes | No | Banned campus-wide, same as cigarettes |
For USA airport smoking rules, state vape rules, lighter rules at TSA, and other federal/state info, see our USA smoking guide.