Chapter 3 — GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
Section 310 — SMOKING
2025 California Fire Code (Title 24, Part 9) · 2025 edition · updated 2026-07-29 · California
Italicized text is a California amendment to the model code, as printed in the official publication.
310.1 General. ¶
The smoking or carrying of a lighted pipe, cigar, cigarette or any other type of smoking paraphernalia or material is prohibited in the areas indicated in Sections 310.2 through 310.8.
310.2 Prohibited areas. ¶
Smoking shall be prohibited where conditions are such as to make smoking a hazard, and in spaces where flammable or combustible materials are stored or handled.
Exception: In Group I-2 occupancies, patients shall be permitted to smoke in designated patient care areas based on the clinical needs of the patient.
[California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, §3.32(a) and (b)] Smoking.
(a) Smoking shall not be permitted in any Group E Occupancy as defined in California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 2, except as provided in California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, subsection (b), below.
(b) The governing board of any school district maintaining a community college or high school may adopt rules and regulations permitting the smoking and possession of tobacco on the campus of a community college or high school or while under the authority of school personnel by pupils of the community college or high school; provided that such rules and regulations shall not permit students to smoke in any classroom or other enclosed facility which any student is required to occupy or which is customarily occu- pied by nonsmoking students. Areas designated for smoking shall be approved by the enforcing agency.
NOTE: See Section 48901 of the Education Code relating to the smoking or possession of tobacco by pupils.
[California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, §3.32(d)] Smoking.
(d) Smoking shall be prohibited in any patient room of a Group I, R-2.1, R-3.1 or R-4 occupancy utilizing air-induced mattresses. “No Smoking – Open Flame” signs shall be installed as specified in NFPA 99B, Hypobaric Facilities, 2005 edition.
310.2.1 Group I-2. In Group I-2 occupancies, smoking shall be prohibited in patient care areas or where oxygen is used, stored or handled.
310.3 “No Smoking” signs. ¶
The fire code official is authorized to order the posting of “No Smoking” signs or the international symbol for no smoking in a conspicuous location in each structure or location in which smoking is prohibited. The content, lettering, size, color and location of required “No Smoking” signs shall be approved.
Exception: “No Smoking” signs are not required in interior locations of the facility where signs are displayed at all major entrances into the facility.
[California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, §3.32(c)] Smoking.
(c) Approved no smoking signs shall be posted on all stages and platforms of Group A occupancies. Smoking shall not be permitted on stages or platforms except in approved designated areas and as necessary for theatrical, opera or similar productions.
310.4 Removal of signs prohibited. ¶
A posted “No Smoking” sign shall not be obscured, removed, defaced, mutilated or destroyed.
310.5 Compliance with “No Smoking” signs. ¶
Smoking shall not be permitted nor shall a person smoke, throw or deposit any lighted or smoldering substance in any place where “No Smoking” signs are posted.
310.6 Ash trays. ¶
Where smoking is permitted, suitable noncombustible ash trays or match receivers shall be provided on each table and at other appropriate locations. In Group I-2 occupancies, noncombustible metal containers with self-closing covers shall be provided in areas where smoking is permitted.
310.7 Burning objects. ¶
Lighted matches, cigarettes, cigars or other burning object shall not be discarded in such a manner that could cause ignition of other combustible material.
310.8 Hazardous environmental conditions. ¶
Where the fire code official determines that hazardous environmental conditions necessitate controlled use of smoking materials, the ignition or use of such materials in mountainous, brush-covered or forestcovered areas or other designated areas is prohibited except in approved designated smoking areas.
Get a plain-English answer with a citation back to this text.
Ask AI about this code▸ Contents — 2025 California Fire Code (Title 24, Part 9)
- Chapter 1 — ADMINISTRATION
- Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS
-
▸ Chapter 3 — GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
Overview- Section 301 — GENERAL
- Section 302 — DEFINITIONS
- Section 303 — ASPHALT KETTLES
- Section 304 — COMBUSTIBLE WASTE MATERIAL
- Section 305 — IGNITION SOURCES
- Section 306 — MOTION PICTURE PROJECTION ROOMS AND FILM
- Section 307 — OPEN BURNING, RECREATIONAL FIRES AND PORTABLE OU…
- Section 308 — OPEN FLAMES
- Section 309 — POWERED INDUSTRIAL TRUCKS AND EQUIPMENT
- Section 310 — SMOKING
- Section 311 — VACANT PREMISES
- Section 312 — VEHICLE IMPACT PROTECTION
- Section 313 — FUELED EQUIPMENT
- Section 314 — INDOOR DISPLAYS
- Section 315 — GENERAL STORAGE
- Section 316 — HAZARDS TO FIREFIGHTERS
- Section 317 — VEGETATIVE AND LANDSCAPED ROOFS
- Section 318 — LAUNDRY CARTS
- Section 319 — ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING (3D PRINTING)
- Section 320 — BATTERY STORAGE
- Section 321 — ARTIFICIAL COMBUSTIBLE VEGETATION
- Section 322 — POWERED MICROMOBILITY DEVICES
- Section 323 — ROAD TUNNELS, BRIDGES AND OTHER LIMITED ACCESS H…
- Chapter 4 — EMERGENCY PLANNING AND PREPAREDNESS
- Chapter 5 — FIRE SERVICE FEATURES
- Chapter 6 — BUILDING SERVICES AND SYSTEMS
- Chapter 7 — FIRE AND SMOKE PROTECTION FEATURES
- Chapter 8 — INTERIOR FINISH, DECORATIVE MATERIALS AND FURNISHI…
- Chapter 9 — FIRE PROTECTION AND LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS
- Chapter 10 — MEANS OF EGRESS
- Chapter 11 — CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS FOR EXISTING BUILDINGS
- Chapter 12 — ENERGY SYSTEMS
- Chapter 20 — AVIATION FACILITIES
- Chapter 21 — DRY CLEANING
- Chapter 22 — COMBUSTIBLE DUST-PRODUCING OPERATIONS
- Chapter 23 — MOTOR FUEL-DISPENSING FACILITIES AND REPAIR GARAGES
- Chapter 24 — FLAMMABLE FINISHES
- Chapter 25 — FRUIT AND CROP RIPENING
- Chapter 26 — FUMIGATION AND INSECTICIDAL FOGGING
- Chapter 27 — SEMICONDUCTOR FABRICATION FACILITIES
- Chapter 28 — LUMBER YARDS AND AGRO-INDUSTRIAL, SOLID BIOMASS A…
- Chapter 29 — MANUFACTURE OF ORGANIC COATINGS
- Chapter 30 — INDUSTRIAL OVENS
- Chapter 31 — TENTS, TEMPORARY SPECIAL EVENT STRUCTURES AND OTH…
- Chapter 32 — HIGH-PILED COMBUSTIBLE STORAGE
- Chapter 33 — FIRE SAFETY DURING CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION
- Chapter 34 — TIRE REBUILDING AND TIRE STORAGE
- Chapter 35 — WELDING AND OTHER HOT WORK
- Chapter 36 — MARINAS
- Chapter 37 — COMBUSTIBLE FIBERS
- Chapter 38 — RESERVED
- Chapter 39 — PROCESSING AND EXTRACTION FACILITIES
- Chapter 40 — STORAGE OF DISTILLED SPIRITS AND WINES
- Chapter 41 — TEMPORARY HEATING AND COOKING OPERATIONS
- Chapter 48 — MOTION PICTURE AND TELEVISION PRODUCTION STUDIO S…
- Chapter 49 — REQUIREMENTS FOR WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE FIRE AR…
- Chapter 50 — HAZARDOUS MATERIALS—GENERAL PROVISIONS
- Chapter 51 — AEROSOLS
- Chapter 52 — RESERVED
- Chapter 53 — COMPRESSED GASES
- Chapter 54 — CORROSIVE MATERIALS
- Chapter 55 — CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
- Chapter 56 — EXPLOSIVES AND FIREWORKS
- Chapter 57 — FLAMMABLE AND COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS
- Chapter 58 — FLAMMABLE GASES AND FLAMMABLE CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
- Chapter 59 — FLAMMABLE SOLIDS
- Chapter 60 — HIGHLY TOXIC AND TOXIC MATERIALS
- Chapter 61 — LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GASES
- Chapter 62 — ORGANIC PEROXIDES
- Chapter 63 — OXIDIZERS, OXIDIZING GASES AND OXIDIZING CRYOGENI…
- Chapter 64 — PYROPHORIC MATERIALS
- Chapter 65 — PYROXYLIN (CELLULOSE NITRATE) PLASTICS
- Chapter 66 — UNSTABLE (REACTIVE) MATERIALS
- Chapter 67 — WATER-REACTIVE SOLIDS AND LIQUIDS
- Chapter 80 — REFERENCED STANDARDS
- Appendix Chapter 4 — SPECIAL DETAILED REQUIREMENTS BASED ON US…
- Appendix A — BOARD OF APPEALS
- Appendix B — FIRE-FLOW REQUIREMENTS FOR BUILDINGS
- Appendix BB — FIRE-FLOW REQUIREMENTS FOR BUILDINGS
- Appendix C — FIRE HYDRANT LOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTION
- Appendix CC — FIRE HYDRANT LOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTION
- Appendix D — FIRE APPARATUS ACCESS ROADS
- Appendix E — HAZARD CATEGORIES
- Appendix F — HAZARD RANKING
- Appendix G — CRYOGENIC FLUIDS—WEIGHT AND VOLUME EQUIVALENTS
- Appendix H — HAZARDOUS MATERIALS MANAGEMENT PLANS AND HAZARDOU…
- Appendix I — FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS—NONCOMPLIANT CONDITIONS
- Appendix J — BUILDING INFORMATION SIGN
- Appendix K — CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS FOR EXISTING AMBULATORY…
- Appendix L — REQUIREMENTS FOR FIREFIGHTER AIR REPLENISHMENT SY…
- Appendix M — HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS—RETROACTIVE AUTOMATIC SPRINKL…
- Appendix N — INDOOR TRADE SHOWS AND EXHIBITIONS
- Appendix O — VALET TRASH AND RECYCLING COLLECTION IN GROUP R-2…
- Appendix P — TEMPORARY HAUNTED HOUSES, GHOST WALKS AND SIMILAR…
- Appendix Q — COMMUNITY WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE (WUI) FIRE HAZ…