Where Can You Smoke in Atlanta? A Local Guide to Smoking Areas

If you live in or are visiting Atlanta, Georgia, you’ll notice that smoking is allowed in some places and tightly restricted in others. The city has a mix of smoke-free zones, limited designated smoking areas, and different rules depending on whether you’re indoors, outdoors, or at major hubs like Hartsfield‑Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

This guide explains where you can and cannot smoke in Atlanta, how local rules work by neighborhood and district, and what to expect at apartments, parks, restaurants, and more.

The Short Answer: Does Atlanta Have Smoking Areas?

Yes, Atlanta does have smoking areas, but:

• Most are outdoors and must be a certain distance from building entrances and windows.
• Many private properties (like apartments, hotels, and office complexes) have their own designated smoking spots.
• Indoor public places in the City of Atlanta are generally smoke-free, with limited exceptions.
• Hartsfield‑Jackson Airport no longer has indoor smoking lounges; smoking is allowed only outside the terminals in marked areas.

If you smoke, you can usually find a place to do so, but you will need to pay attention to posted signs, property rules, and local ordinances.

How Smoking Laws Work in Atlanta

City and County Basics

Atlanta sits across multiple counties, mainly Fulton County and DeKalb County, but smoking rules in the City of Atlanta are largely driven by:

• Georgia state law (especially for indoor public spaces)
• City of Atlanta ordinances (which can be stricter in certain areas)
• Property-specific policies (such as apartments, restaurants, and venues)

Most indoor public spaces—like restaurants, bars, workplaces, and retail stores—are either required or strongly encouraged to be smoke-free. Some properties may allow smoking in a clearly separated outdoor area.

Smoking in Atlanta Neighborhoods and Districts

You won’t usually find a “smoking section” that covers a whole neighborhood, but different parts of Atlanta have typical patterns worth knowing.

Downtown Atlanta

Areas like Peachtree Center, Centennial Olympic Park, and the Government District tend to be:

• Strictly non‑smoking indoors
• Clear about no smoking near building entrances
• Surrounded by office towers and hotels that often provide small outdoor smoking zones near parking or side entrances

Public plazas and sidewalks may allow smoking, but you’re expected to:

• Stay away from doorways and building air intakes
• Use ashtrays or receptacles where provided

Midtown

Midtown’s mix of high‑rise residential buildings, offices, and nightlife means:

• Many apartment and condo buildings are designated smoke‑free inside but may provide outdoor courtyards or rooftop areas where smoking is allowed.
• Bars and restaurants with patios may:
  • Completely prohibit smoking, or
  • Allow it only in specific parts of the outdoor area

Policies can vary block by block, so check signage or ask staff before lighting up on a patio.

Buckhead

In Buckhead’s retail and nightlife corridors, such as around Peachtree Road, it’s common to see:

• Non‑smoking indoor environments
• Some outdoor smoking areas near:
  • Parking decks
  • Sidewalk edges
  • Designated corners of shopping centers

Upscale residential high‑rises often have strict non‑smoking rules indoors and on balconies, but may offer one designated outdoor smoking area on the property.

Intown Residential Neighborhoods

Neighborhoods like Virginia‑Highland, Inman Park, Old Fourth Ward, Grant Park, and West End are mostly residential, so smoking rules are heavily property‑based:

• Single‑family homes: The property owner sets the rules.
• Smaller apartment buildings and duplexes: Some are smoke‑free; others may allow smoking on porches, yards, or a shared area.
• Larger complexes: Increasingly designate:
  • All indoor areas as non‑smoking, and
  • One or more outdoor smoking areas (often near the edge of the property or parking lots).

If you rent, check your lease for details on where smoking is allowed.

Smoking at Hartsfield‑Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Many visitors ask specifically: “Does Atlanta airport have a smoking area?”

Current Airport Smoking Rules

As of recent policy changes:

• Indoor smoking rooms at Hartsfield‑Jackson Atlanta International Airport have been eliminated.
• Smoking and vaping are only allowed:
  • Outside the terminal buildings
  • In designated outdoor smoking areas identified by signage or ash receptacles

If you have a long layover and need to smoke:

1. You must exit security and go to an outdoor smoking area near the curb or designated zone.
2. You’ll then need to re‑enter security and allow time for screening.

Where to Ask for Clarification

You can confirm the latest information by contacting:

Hartsfield‑Jackson Atlanta International Airport
6000 N Terminal Pkwy
Atlanta, GA 30320
Main Information Line: (800) 897‑1910

Policies can be updated, so it’s wise to check before you travel.

Smoking in Parks and Public Outdoor Spaces

Atlanta has many popular parks—Piedmont Park, Grant Park, Chastain Park, Westside Park, and others. Smoking rules here are generally:

• No smoking in park buildings (restrooms, rec centers, indoor venues)
• Restrictions or discouragement of smoking in:
  • Crowded areas like playgrounds, pool entrances, and event spaces
  • Covered pavilions and bleacher seating

Some parks post clear “No Smoking” signs in high‑traffic spots. Others may not have visible signage, but you’re still expected to avoid:

• Smoking near children’s play areas
• Smoking in the middle of crowded walkways or festival zones

When in doubt, move to a less crowded area, stay away from structures or organized events, and properly dispose of cigarette waste.

Smoking in Atlanta Restaurants, Bars, and Entertainment Venues

Indoor Dining and Bars

Most Atlanta restaurants, coffee shops, and indoor bars are non‑smoking inside. That usually means:

• No cigarette or cigar smoking anywhere indoors
• No vaping indoors in many establishments
• Restrooms, hallways, and waiting areas are also non‑smoking

Outdoor Patios and Rooftops

Whether you can smoke on a patio or rooftop depends entirely on the business:

• Some locations are fully non‑smoking, inside and out.
• Others may:
  • Allow smoking only at outer edges of a patio
  • Restrict smoking to designated tables or a corner area

You’ll often see signs like “No Smoking on Patio” or “Smoking in Designated Area Only”. If there’s no sign, it’s best to ask your server.

Smoking in Apartments, Condos, and Hotels

Multifamily Housing

Within Atlanta’s many apartment and condo buildings, you’ll see a few typical patterns:

• Smoke‑free buildings:

  • No smoking in units, hallways, balconies, or common areas
  • A single outdoor smoking zone near the perimeter or parking lot

• Mixed‑policy properties:

  • Some buildings or floors are non‑smoking
  • Other sections may allow smoking inside units or on balconies, but still not in shared indoor spaces

• Older properties:

  • May have more lenient rules, but many are gradually moving toward smoke‑free policies

If you smoke and are looking for housing, ask specifically:

• “Is this a smoke‑free building?”
• “Are there designated smoking areas on site?”
• “Can I smoke on my balcony or patio?”

Hotels

Hotels in busy districts like Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, and near the airport often:

• List “smoke‑free” across the entire property, with:
  • No smoking in rooms, hallways, lobbies, or meeting spaces
  • A small outdoor smoking area near a side entrance or parking lot

A few may still offer smoking‑optional rooms, but these are less common. Always confirm at check‑in, or call the front desk and ask:

• Where are smoking areas located?
• Are balconies or outdoor walkways smoke‑free or not?

Where You Typically Can and Cannot Smoke in Atlanta

Here’s a simple summary to help you quickly gauge what to expect:

MARTA and Other Transit Areas

If you rely on MARTA or other public transit in Atlanta:

• No smoking is allowed:
  • On trains, buses, or streetcars
  • Inside station buildings, tunnels, or covered platforms

Outdoor areas near some stations may not be clearly marked, but you’re expected to stay:

• Away from platforms, shelters, and stairwells
• Outside of posted no‑smoking zones

For clarity, you can contact:

Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA)
2424 Piedmont Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30324
Customer Service: (404) 848‑5000

How Far from Buildings Should You Smoke?

Many properties in Atlanta follow a common pattern: they ask people not to smoke within a certain distance of:

• Entrances and exits
• Windows that open
• Building air vents

You’ll often see signs such as:

• “No Smoking Within 25 Feet of Entrance”
• “Smoke at Designated Area Only”

Even when there’s no sign, a reasonable distance from doorways and crowded walkways is expected. This is especially true in Midtown, Downtown, and around major office or medical buildings.

Tips for Smokers Navigating Atlanta’s Neighborhoods

To avoid confusion or fines when moving around Atlanta’s districts:

• Look for signs first
  Most large venues, public buildings, and parks post clear rules at entrances.

• Ask if you’re unsure
  Staff at hotels, restaurants, offices, and event spaces can tell you exactly where smoking is allowed.

• Use ash receptacles
  Many downtown and Midtown sidewalks have dedicated cigarette disposal units. Using them helps keep neighborhoods clean and avoids complaints.

• Plan ahead for events
  At concerts, festivals, and sports games, smoking is often restricted to designated outdoor zones only. Check the venue map or ask at guest services.

Who to Contact for Official Smoking Rules in Atlanta

If you need precise information about local smoking regulations, zoning, or enforcement in a specific Atlanta neighborhood:

City of Atlanta – City Hall
55 Trinity Ave SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
General Information: (404) 330‑6000

For health‑focused smoke‑free initiative details and public space policies, residents often look to:

Fulton County Board of Health
10 Park Place South SE, 4th Floor
Atlanta, GA 30303
Main Line: (404) 612‑1211

These offices can direct you to the most current ordinances or city codes that apply to your area.

In Atlanta, there are smoking areas—but they’re increasingly limited to outdoor, clearly designated spots, with indoor public spaces across most neighborhoods and districts operating as smoke‑free environments. Wherever you are in the city, checking posted signs, property rules, and staff guidance is the most reliable way to know exactly where you can smoke.