Smoking is prohibited in all public places in the state of Michigan. This includes areas within airports. Detroit Metro Airport is no exception to this rule and has a designated smoking area for those who need to smoke.
This guide is one of my advisories on airports that permit smoking. It includes specific information on smoking at airports like Atlanta, Heathrow, and JFK. I have meticulously crafted these guides to provide you with comprehensive and insightful resources on this topic.
What is Smoking?
Table of Contents
Smoking is the act of inhaling and exhaling the smoke of tobacco, cannabis and other substances. The majority of smokers prefer cigarettes for their convenience and affordability. Cigarettes contain hundreds of additives that increase their addictive potential and create a wide range of health risks for people who use them.
Where is the Detroit Airport Smoking Area?
The designated smoking area at Detroit Metro Airport is located outside of the main terminal doors near the baggage claim. The area is clearly marked with signs and includes several ashtrays for users to dispose of their cigarettes. There are also benches available for travelers who need a place to sit while smoking.
What are the Rules?
In 2009, the Governor of Michigan signed some legislation called the Public Act 188 into laws and it introduced smoke-free air laws in Michigan. The smoke-free air law prohibits smoking in public places and workplaces, including airports. This means that users of the Detroit airport smoking area must comply with all of the rules and regulations regarding smoking at the airport.

While the Smoke-free law went into effect in 2009, the Airport’s management only enforced the smoking ban in 2012 as per this circular.
Under the law, the following areas are regarded as public spaces;
- (i) enclosed indoor area owned or operated by a state or local governmental agency and used by the general public;
- (ii) an enclosed indoor area used by the general public and is an educational facility, a home for the aged, nursing home, hospice, or hospital long-term care unit, auditorium, arena, theater, museum, concert hall, or any other facility during the period of its use for performance or exhibit of the arts;
- (iii) unless otherwise exempted, a place of employment. Place of employment means an enclosed indoor area that contains one or more work area for one or more persons employed by a public or private employer.
Does Regulation Allow Smoking at Detroit Airport?
No. Smoking is prohibited in all public places including airports and Detroit Metro Airport is no exception to this rule. The law that was passed in 2009 does not prohibit smoking in outdoor spaces and the airport has a designated smoking area for those who need to smoke. Travelers are allowed to smoke in the designated smoking area, but they must comply with all rules and regulations regarding smoking. There is also a fine for anyone who is caught smoking outside of the designated area.
What’s the penalty for smoking in non-designated areas?
You’ll get a misdemeanor ticket and will be fined up to $100. In addition, you may also be banned from the airport premises altogether. So make sure to stick to the designated smoking area at Detroit Airport if you need to smoke.
Smoking Areas at Detroit Airport:
The designated smoking area at Detroit Metro Airport is located outside of the main terminal doors near the baggage claim. The area is clearly marked with signs and includes several ashtrays for users to dispose of their cigarettes. There are also benches available for travelers who need a place to sit while smoking.

My name is Alex Mutuma and I founded this blog, Airport LLC as a way to document and engage with clients in my travel consulting business. Airportllc.com is the only source of over 2,000 fun things flyers could do during layovers.
Over the past 7 years, I have designed and planned tour packages for hundreds of clients and have recently focussed on the mission of changing boring layovers to excellent mini-vacations by giving you the best suggestions on must-do activities when flying over different airports.
Next time you or your friend are looking for suggestions on what to do in some airport, remember Airport LLC or Airportllc.com. On this site, you’ll get the best suggestions available on the internet regarding hand-picked activities that will fulfill your airport experience.
I currently reside in New York City and have obtained a license to provide professional tour guidance at Airports in the US and across the world. Why should you listen to my suggestions? I have flown through more than 100 airports in the world and fortunately, I have pictures, stories, and tips to share with you regarding all the fun stuff you can do as you wait for your next flight.
Aside from gaining thousands of flying miles, I am also a travel consultant assisting clients with bookings and specifically advance tour bookings of things to do at airports when the layover is longer than 5 hours.
To make a 15-minute free things-to-do consultation with Alex, use my email, alex@airportllc.com.
This is only recommended for flyers with long layovers of over 5 hours. If your layover is 3+ hours, you can still reach out but we cannot guarantee the ideal package that will change your layovers to mini-vacations. I only support clients flying through US airports and a select number of cities across the world.
———–
Name: Alex Mutuma
Profession: A professional travel consultant with a focus on airport activities to do during layovers
Email: Alex@airportllc.com
Phone: +1 945 348 889
Website: airportllc.com
Location: 322 Main Packway Street, Boston, US
———–