Ban on the Sale of All Tobacco Products in Beverly Hills

Beverly Hills Municipal Code - Smoking Regulations

On June 4, 2019, the Beverly Hills City Council unanimously approved an ordinance to prohibit the sale of tobacco products in the City starting on January 1, 2021.

The key provisions of the ordinance include:

• A permanent exemption/carve out for three existing cigar lounges;
• Effective January 1, 2021, hotels, existing and future, may only sell to guests;
• Effective January 1, 2021, all other businesses shall stop selling tobacco products;
• A hardship exemption provision for retailers that demonstrate the ban would cause undue hardship; and
• City Council review of the impacts on tourism in three years.
  

Notwithstanding of the January 1, 2021 date, the sale of flavored tobacco products is already prohibited. Please see additional information below. 

  Reports and Public Meetings

Ban on Sales of Flavored Tobacco Products

As of December 21, 2018, the City of Beverly Hills prohibits the sale of flavored tobacco products. The law applies to all tobacco retailers within Beverly Hills. Any tobacco retailer that sells a flavored tobacco product is in violation of the requirements for operation under its Tobacco and Electronic Cigarette Retailer Permit. A first violation to a permit condition is $250. A second violation within a five-year period is $750 and the permit is suspended for 90 days. A third violation within a five-year period is $1,000 and the permit shall be revoked.

 A flavored tobacco product is any tobacco product that imparts a characterizing flavor other than the taste or aroma of tobacco, including, but not limited to, menthol, mint, wintergreen, fruit, chocolate, vanilla, honey, candy, cocoa, dessert, alcoholic beverage, herb, or spice.

The flavor ban applies to all tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, snuff, chewing tobacco, smokeless tobacco, and electronic cigarettes. Menthol cigarettes are included in the ban on flavored products. Products authorized by the United States Food and Drug Administration as a tobacco cessation product, such as nicotine gum, are not included in the ban.

For more information, please contact Code Compliance / Community Preservation (310)285-1119. 

  Reports and Public Meetings

Prospective Businesses

Generally speaking, the City treats e-cigarette and smoke shop use establishments the same if located in commercial zones where retail establishments are allowed. If you are a potential business owner interested in establishing a tobacco or e-cigarette business, please contact:

Current Businesses

The City's local regulations require tobacco and e-cigarette retailers to annually apply for a city permit to sell such products. The sales of such items from stand-alone vending machines are not allowed. For information about the tobacco and e-cigarette permit process, please contact:

Code Violations

To report a code violation, please contact: