Designated Smoking Areas

Where can I smoke?

As of July 1, 2024, if you must smoke or vape, please do so off University of Waterloo property or in the temporary designated smoking areas (DSAs) that have been created under the transitional provisions of the policy.

The usage of cannabis is prohibited. 

Main campus Designated Smoking Areas

(in place until April 30, 2025)

Designated Smoking Area One:

Designated smoking areas on campus - William Lyon Mackenzie King Village

MKV: Mackenzie King Village, V1: Village 1

Designated Smoking Area Two:

Designated smoking areas on campus - Federation Hall Building.

FED: Federation Hall, UC: University Club

Designated Smoking Area Three:

Designated Smoking Area - Modern Languages Building

NH: Needles Hall, ML: Modern Languages

Designated Smoking Area Four:

Designated Smoking Area - the Hagey Hall building

HH: Hagey Hall

View the main campus Designated Smoking Areas full map.

Note: the purpose of the map is to identify DSA's. The smoke-free campus applies to all University property, including the Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge, and Stratford campuses, that transitioned to a smoke-free environment as of July 1, 2024.

Please review this page for additional information regarding the areas that may have an impact on you.


Smoking is also permitted on city-owned property, which includes many streets and sidewalks on and adjacent to campus. We ask that you please be courteous to our community neighbours and partners, and do not gather in front of these businesses and areas to smoke.

Please observe the smoking policies at Grand River Transit (GRT) bus shelters, the Transit Plaza, and on ION platforms.

The following streets are owned by the University and, therefore, smoking is not permitted, including but not limited to:

  • Ring Road
  • UW Campus Lane
  • Village Road
  • William Tutte Way
  • Rev Road
  • W Cul-de-sac
  • Residence Road
  • All building access routes and fire routes
  • All parking lot access routes

The following sidewalks along the Columbia Ice Fields (CIF) and Warrior Field (WF) also have smoking restrictions in accordance with the Smoke-Free Ontario Act's regulations on outdoor grounds of recreational facilities:

  • North side of Columbia Street West
  • South side of Frank Tompa Drive

Smoking is also not permitted on any University-owned biking and walking paths.

Where can I smoke on the other campuses?

For Stratford, Kitchener, and Cambridge locations, smoking is permitted on city-owned property, including the streets and sidewalks on and adjacent to UWaterloo campus property. Please observe the smoking policies of each municipality.

These locations include:

Can I smoke in the David Johnston Research + Technology park?

This smoke-free policy will apply to the following University owned and operated locations:

  • Toby Jenkins Applied Health Sciences building
  • Research Advancement Centre I (RAC I)
  • Bauer Warehouse

This policy does not apply to University lands that are leased to third-parties, including non-University buildings in the Research + Technology Park. Specifically:

  • 275 Frank Tompa Dr (OpenText)
  • 295 Hagey Blvd. (Accelerator Centre, NAVBLUE, Geosyntec)
  • 300 Hagey Blvd (Stantec)
  • 375 Hagey Blvd (AGFA)
  • 420 Wes Graham Way (EY, Textnow, Borealis AI, Sustainable Waterloo Region)
  • 445 Wes Graham Way (SAP, HockeyTech, IMS)
  • 485 Wes Graham Way (RAC II / Quantum Valley Ideas Lab)

Can I smoke in my own vehicle on University property?

Smoking is not permitted inside or outside of personal vehicles while on University property.
 

Learn more at the UWaterloo smoke-free policy: frequently asked questions