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No smoking sign legal requirements (UK)

The Health Act 2006 in plain English. Where signs are required, the legal minimum size and wording, how vehicles are treated, and what to do about vaping.

By Direct Signs Team · ISO 9001 certified UK manufacturer · Updated April 2026

The short answer

UK no-smoking signs are legally required at every entrance to enclosed and substantially enclosed workplaces and public places under the Health Act 2006 (and equivalent UK-nation legislation). The minimum legal size is A5 (210mm × 148mm) with a no-smoking pictogram of at least 70mm diameter. The wording must include "No smoking. It is against the law to smoke in these premises". Smoke-free vehicles need one sign per compartment, minimum 75mm × 50mm. Vaping is not covered by the legislation but most employers extend their policy to e-cigarettes via workplace rules.

UK no-smoking sign requirements at a glance

Requirement Premises Vehicles
Minimum sizeA5 (210mm × 148mm)75mm × 50mm
Pictogram≥ 70mm diameterNo fixed diameter; legible
Required wording"No smoking. It is against the law to smoke in these premises"Pictogram alone is acceptable
WhereAt every entrance, visible to anyone enteringIn each compartment
Penalty for failure£200 fixed penalty (max £1,000 on prosecution)£200 fixed penalty (driver) plus £2,500 for vehicle owner

The legal framework across the UK

The UK has four different pieces of legislation creating equivalent rules across the home nations:

  • England: The Health Act 2006 + Smoke-free (Premises and Enforcement) Regulations 2006 + Smoke-free (Signs) Regulations 2007 — in force since 1 July 2007.
  • Scotland: Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Act 2005 + Prohibition of Smoking in Certain Premises (Scotland) Regulations 2006 — in force since 26 March 2006 (Scotland was first).
  • Wales: Smoke-free Premises etc. (Wales) Regulations 2007 — in force from 2 April 2007.
  • Northern Ireland: Smoking (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 — in force from 30 April 2007.

The four sets of legislation differ in some details — for instance Scotland uses slightly different sign wording — but the core requirements (entrance signs in compliant size and format, in every enclosed workplace and public place) are equivalent across the UK.

What counts as "enclosed" or "substantially enclosed"?

The legislation is specific:

  • Enclosed: a space that has a ceiling or roof and (except for doors, windows and passageways) is wholly enclosed either permanently or temporarily.
  • Substantially enclosed: a space that has a ceiling or roof but where less than half of the side walls are open. The "50% rule" — if the openings in the walls are less than 50% of the total wall area, the space counts as substantially enclosed.

The 50% rule means partly-walled smoking shelters and outdoor areas need careful design to remain compliant. A shelter with three solid walls and one open side is "substantially enclosed" and counts as smoke-free; a shelter with three open sides and a roof typically doesn't.

Vaping and e-cigarettes

The Health Act 2006 covers tobacco smoking. It does not extend to e-cigarettes or vaping. This creates a policy gap that every employer needs to address:

  • Default position: if your no-smoking policy doesn't mention vaping, vaping is technically allowed indoors. This is rarely the intent.
  • Most employers: extend the no-smoking policy to include e-cigarettes via internal workplace rules. The signage should reflect this — combined "No smoking, no vaping" signs are widely available.
  • Public Health England guidance: generally recommends treating vaping the same as smoking in shared indoor spaces, but explicitly notes vaping is much lower-risk for non-users than secondhand tobacco smoke.

Direct Signs supplies combined no-smoking-and-vaping signage as both stock and bespoke products. Bespoke wording can include specific premises rules without losing Health Act compliance.

Smoke-free vehicles

The Health Act and supporting regulations require no-smoking signs in:

  • Taxis and private hire vehicles
  • Buses and coaches
  • Work vehicles used by more than one person
  • Vehicles carrying children — separate legislation since 2015 makes it illegal to smoke in any vehicle carrying anyone under 18

Each compartment of the vehicle requires a sign of at least 75mm × 50mm. Many fleet operators place a sign at each door window. Since 2015, the children-in-vehicles rule effectively requires no-smoking signage to be highly visible across all UK private vehicles when children are present.

Penalties for non-compliance

  • Failing to display required signage: £200 fixed penalty for the responsible person (reduced to £150 if paid within 15 days, increased to a maximum £1,000 on prosecution).
  • Smoking on smoke-free premises: £50 fixed penalty for the individual smoking (reduced to £30 if paid early, max £200 on prosecution).
  • Premises that fail to prevent smoking: £200 fixed penalty for the operator, max £2,500 on prosecution.
  • Smoking in a vehicle carrying children: £50 fixed penalty for the smoker and the driver (separate offences).

Enforcement is typically by local authority Trading Standards or Environmental Health officers. The fines are individually small but the responsible person carries continuing liability — a single non-compliant premises can rack up multiple fines per inspection if the issue is not fixed.

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Quick answers

No smoking sign FAQs

Are no smoking signs a legal requirement in the UK?
Yes. The Health Act 2006 requires every enclosed and substantially enclosed UK workplace and public place to display compliant no-smoking signage at every entrance. The signs must be at least A5 size (210mm × 148mm), include the international no-smoking pictogram with a minimum 70mm diameter, and use the wording "No smoking. It is against the law to smoke in these premises".

Are no smoking signs mandatory?
Yes — they are legally mandatory in enclosed workplaces and public places under the Health Act 2006 (England), with equivalent legislation in Scotland (Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Act 2005), Wales (Smoke-free Premises etc. (Wales) Regulations 2007), and Northern Ireland (Smoking (Northern Ireland) Order 2006). The responsible person — typically the building owner or employer — is legally accountable for ensuring signs are displayed.

How many no smoking signs have to be displayed?
At least one compliant sign at every entrance to the smoke-free premises. Inside the building, there is no fixed minimum count, but additional signs are good practice in lifts, stairwells, lobbies, and large open areas. Smoke-free vehicles require one sign in each compartment.

Where should no smoking signs be displayed?
No smoking signs must be displayed at every entrance to a smoke-free workplace or public place, in a position visible to anyone entering. Common placements: glass doors at building entrances, reception areas, lift lobbies, and at the boundary of any indoor smoke-free area. For smoke-free vehicles (taxis, work vehicles), one sign per compartment.

What size does a no smoking sign need to be?
For premises entrances, the legal minimum is A5 (210mm × 148mm) with a no-smoking pictogram of at least 70mm diameter. For smoke-free vehicles, the minimum is 75mm × 50mm. Signs displayed inside premises (away from entrances) can be smaller.

What colour is a no smoking sign?
A standard UK no-smoking sign is a red circle with a horizontal red diagonal line over a black silhouette of a lit cigarette, on a white background. The wording "No smoking. It is against the law to smoke in these premises" appears in black text below or beside the pictogram. The red circle and bar form the universal prohibition symbol under BS EN ISO 7010.

Do no smoking signs apply to vaping?
The Health Act 2006 specifically covers tobacco smoking — it does not extend to vaping or e-cigarettes. However, employers can extend their no-smoking policy to vaping under workplace rules, and many do. If your policy includes vaping, your signage should explicitly say so. Direct Signs supplies combined "No smoking, no vaping" signs as both stock and bespoke products.

Where do I need to put no smoking signs in a vehicle?
Smoke-free vehicles (taxis, buses, work vehicles used by more than one person, and vehicles carrying children) must display a no-smoking sign in each compartment. The minimum sign size for vehicles is 75mm × 50mm. Many fleet operators place a sign on each window or at each door of the vehicle.

What are the penalties for not displaying a no smoking sign?
Failing to display required no-smoking signage can result in a fixed penalty notice to the responsible person — typically £200 (reduced to £150 if paid within 15 days), or up to £1,000 on prosecution. The premises operator is also liable for fixed penalties if smoking takes place on the premises (£200 per offence) and can face fines up to £2,500 on prosecution.

Are there any exemptions from the no smoking sign requirements?
Yes. The Health Act 2006 includes specific exemptions: private residences (unless used as a workplace by employees), some designated rooms in care homes, hospices, and prisons, and certain offshore installations. Adult-only psychiatric units and research/testing facilities can also have specific exemptions. Outdoor smoking areas — where permitted — do not require no-smoking signs but typically do require signage indicating where smoking is permitted to avoid confusion.

Need Health Act compliant signs?

Direct Signs supplies the standard Health Act 2006 entrance signs and bespoke options including combined no-smoking-and-vaping wording. ISO 9001 certified UK manufacturer.

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