Most Americans are used to no-smoking policies in workplaces. If smoking is prohibited inside a building, smokers usually head outside to a designated area to light up. But can you smoke just anywhere outside an office building or are you restricted to specific federally regulated outdoor areas? The answer depends on several factors, including the type of building as well as the city and state where it’s located. The regulation of outdoor designated smoking areas near commercial buildings varies from state to state. Always check state and local outdoor smoking ordinances to determine what laws apply to your workplace.