Tobacco Control and Prevention Program

General
Tonya Gorham Gallow, MSW
Program Director

Ronette Anderson
Secretary

Main Office
Phone: 213-351-7890
FAX: 213-351-2710
Email: tobacco1@ph.lacounty.gov
3530 Wilshire Blvd. 8th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90010-2313
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Smoking Complaints
Please call 213-351-7890.

NOTE: TCPP can only address smoking violations in Los Angeles County. If the violation occurred outside of Los Angeles County you can browse our links page or contact your local health department for more information.

Beginning March 16, 2020, all County buildings will be closed to the public.

If you would like to apply for, or have questions regarding, a Tobacco Retail License, please call 213-351-7890 or 213-351-7323 or email tobacco1@ph.lacounty.gov or mfong@ph.lacounty.gov.

We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience.

On May 13, 2020, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health issued a Health Officer Order (HOO) to partially move the County of Los Angeles into Stage 2 of its Roadmap To Recovery: A Phased Approach  to Reopening Safely in Los Angeles County, while keeping a low incidence of person-to-person contact and ensuring continued Social (Physical) Distance and adherence to other infection control protocols.

The HOO allows Lower-Risk Retail Businesses to reopen for curbside pick-up. As a precondition of reopening, these Lower-Risk Retail Businesses must implement the County’s Reopening Protocol for Retail Establishments prior to reopening.

Licensed tobacco retailers, including tobacco shops and vape shops, may provide curbside pick-up provided they comply with the County’s Reopening Protocol for Retail Establishments, conduct STAKE Act age verification at time of pick-up, do not allow customers in the store and comply with all applicable laws.

The HOO only applies to licensed tobacco retailers operating in the County of Los Angeles Public Health Jurisdiction. The County of Los Angeles Public Health Jurisdiction is defined as all unincorporated areas and cities within the County of Los Angeles, with the exception of the cities of Long Beach and Pasadena.

Questions, please contact the Los Angeles County Tobacco Control and Prevention Program at 213-351-7890 or at tobacco1@ph.lacounty.gov

On September 24, 2019 the County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors approved an Ordinance creating restrictions on retail sales of tobacco products and a new business license requirement. The law included a six month period for retailers to come into compliance and is enforceable beginning on May 1, 2020.

The new restrictions and requirements only apply to tobacco retailers in the unincorporated areas of the County. The law does not apply to personal possession or use of tobacco products.

Among other requirements, beginning May 1, 2020, the sale of flavored tobacco products and menthol cigarettes will be prohibited, and little cigars and cigarillos must be sold in packs of at least 20 units. In addition, tobacco shops may not operate without a tobacco shop business license. A tobacco shop is a business devoted exclusively or predominantly to the sale of tobacco, tobacco products, and tobacco paraphernalia.

The updated FAQ can be found here.
The Los Angeles County Tobacco Ordinance can be found here.

Questions, please contact the Los Angeles County Tobacco Control and Prevention Program at 213-351-7890 or at tobacco1@ph.lacounty.gov

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, along with other County of Los Angeles departments, including the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs, Treasurer and Tax Collector, Department of Regional Planning, and County Counsel, will be holding four webinars to review changes to the County of Los Angeles tobacco retailing laws.

The informational sessions are intended to provide information to members of the public and stakeholders who are affected by these changes, as well as allowing members of the public and stakeholders an opportunity to ask questions.

Please find the new dates and times to view the informational webinars:

DATE	TIME
Tuesday, March 24, 2020	10:00 A.M. – 11:00 A.M.
Thursday, March 26, 2020	5:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M.
Monday, April 13, 2020	2:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M.
Thursday, April 30, 2020	10:00 A.M. – 11:00 A.M.

You may participate in one or more of the informational webinars and we encourage your participation. 

To view the webinar, please visit:
Webinar website:	https://www.webmeeting.att.com (cut and paste link into browser)
Meeting Number:	866-390-1828
Code:	9773871
To listen to the webinar, please call:
Phone number:	866-390-1828
Acecss Code:	9773871#

To view webinar slides, click here.
To view a video recording of the webinar, click here.

For additional information regarding the informational sessions or the proposed changes to the County of Los Angeles tobacco retailing laws, please email tobacco1@ph.lacounty.gov or call (213) 351-7890.

The County of Los Angele Tobacco Ordinance FAQ has been updated to include two additional items:

• Can little cigars and cigarillos be sold individually or in packages of less than 20 units;
• If I have a Tobacco Shop, what are the operating requirements for the new Business License;

The updated FAQ can be found here.

The Los Angeles County Tobacco Ordinance can be found here.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health warns residents about the use of vaping and e-cigarette devices as potentially harmful to proper lung function, and urges residents to STOP VAPING NOW. Find the latest information and case counts on The Dangers of Vaping in Los Angeles County. For the most current information nationally, visit The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC will update current case numbers in real-time.

LOS ANGELES- Following a recent death of a Los Angeles County resident potentially related to the use of e-cigarettes, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is issuing a warning to... more

On September 24, 2019 the County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors approved an Ordinance creating restrictions on retail sales of tobacco products and a new business license requirement. The new restrictions and requirements only apply to tobacco retailers in the unincorporated areas of the County. The law does not apply to personal possession or use of tobacco products.

The new law includes:

• Requiring tobacco retailers that exclusively or predominately sell tobacco, tobacco products, or tobacco paraphernalia to obtain a County Tobacco Shop Business License and pay corresponding fees;
• Requiring retailers of electronic tobacco products to obtain a County tobacco retail license and pay corresponding fees;
• Prohibiting the sale of flavored tobacco products, including menthol; and
• Restricting pharmacies from selling tobacco products.

An FAQ with more information is available by clicking here.

The Los Angeles County Tobacco Ordinance is available for review by clicking here.

The Los Angeles County Departments of Public Health and Treasurer and Tax Collector will be hosting an informational webinar on September 5, 2019 from 6:00 P.M. to 7:30 P.M. (PST) on proposed changes to County of Los Angeles’ regulations of tobacco retailers in the unincorporated areas.

To view the adopted Los Angeles County Tobacco Ordinance, click here.

To view the webinar slides, click here.

Responses to questions posed during the Informational Webinar are available here.

According to the latest data from the 2017-18 California Student Tobacco Survey, the cigarette smoking prevalence for high school students in Los Angeles County has reached a historic low (1.7%). However, in that same survey, researchers found that ten percent of high school students use e-cigarette products to vape. E-cigarettes were the most commonly used tobacco product among high school students in LA County.

To view an infographic of the survey findings, click here.

To view the full report, click here.

To view the press release, click here.

The Los Angeles County Departments of Public Health and Treasurer and Tax Collector hosted an informational webinar on July 11, 2019 from 6:00 P.M. to 7:30 P.M. (PST) on proposed changes to County of Los Angeles’ regulations of tobacco retailers in the unincorporated areas.

Responses to questions posed during the Informational Webinar are available here.

On Tuesday March 26, 2019, the County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors passed amendments to strengthen the County's Ordinance on smoke-free environments and close loopholes where smoking is permitted. The approved changes to the Ordinance include:

Updates to the definition of "smoking" and "smoking" to include Electronic Smoking Devices (ESDs) and cannabis.

Ban on smoking in the following outdoor areas -

• County facilities, both county-owned and leased facilities (This provision does not apply to county-owned facilities leased from the county until the lease expires and/or terminates)
• Within 50 ft of any operable entry, exit or operable window of County buildings
• Within 25 ft of any handicap ramp or handicap entrance path of any County building
• Parking areas of County beaches and parks
• County vehicles
• At any parking lot, parking structure, or parking garage of County buildings
• Within any driving range and eating areas of any County golf course

The following changes affect businesses that operate in Unincorporated Los Angeles County:

• An update to the definitions of "smoke" and "smoking" to include electronic smoking devices (ESDs) and cannabis;
• Prohibit smoking within 25 feet of any outdoor area of an eating establishment or bar set aside for use by patrons; and
• Prohibit smoking within 40 feet of any mobile food or temporary food facility, including trucks and carts that serve food to patrons.

 

Updates to the new ordinance are now effective. Since all dining and bar establishments and mobile food facilities operating in Unincorporated Los Angeles County are affected by these changes, we are asking you to please post appropriate signage and help enforce the law.

 

See below for options of downloadable signs.

 

• Small mobile food facilities (i.e. food carts and farmers market vendors) can download a sign here.

• Large mobile food facilities (i.e. food truck) can download a sign here.

• Dining establishments and bars can download a sign here.

Note: These signs cannot be modified or altered without consent.

Note: As required by Los Angeles County Code 11.15.040, dining and bar establishments must post printed signs at least 10 inches wide by 10 inches long, with letters at least one inch in height. The signage provided above meets these requirements.

Te see a copy of the Ordinance, click here.

For more information about the updated ordinance, email the Tobacco Control and Prevention Program at email tobacco1@ph.lacounty.gov or call (213) 351-7890

Cigarette Tax Increases $2 on April 1

In light of the new tobacco tax going into effect this week, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) reminds Californians that resources are available to help them kick the habit.

On April 1, the tax on a pack of cigarettes will increase $2, from $0.87 to $2.87. This increase is a result of Proposition 56, the California Healthcare, Research and Prevention Tobacco Tax Act, which was approved by voters last November.

Californians who want help to quit smoking can call the California Smokers’ Helpline at 1-800-NO BUTTS. The helpline provides smokers free telephone counseling and plans to help them quit. The Helpline is staffed with trained counselors who are fluent in English, Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean and Vietnamese. Additional resources and materials are available at www.nobutts.org.

“We know most smokers want to quit, and paying more for their habit could be the extra motivation they need to make an important life-saving step,” said CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith. “Quitting smoking helps protect your physical and financial health. A smoker who quits today could save nearly $1,500 in just one year.”

Smoking remains the number one cause of preventable death and disease in California. About 3.1 million, or one out of nine, California adults smoke, and an estimated 34,000 Californians die from smoking-related diseases each year.

The state’s new tax increase also impacts tobacco products like electronic cigarettes and e-liquids, which are taxed based on their wholesale cost.

Proposition 56 funds tobacco-use prevention programs, the new state Oral Health Program and research on tobacco-related illnesses such as cancer and heart disease. It also strengthens the Medi-Cal health care system and provides additional resources for CDPH to enforce underage tobacco-sales laws.

Click here for more information from CDPH.

OFFICE OF MARIJUANA MANAGEMENT

Los Angeles County established the Office of Marijuana Management (OMM) in response to Proposition 64, the Adult Use of Marijuana Act. The OMM serves as a countywide coordinating body, working closely with the Board of Supervisors and County departments to implement the County’s marijuana policies and priorities. The OMM's website includes facts sheets, reports and other resources. Click here for more information.

SUBSTANCE ABUSE and PREVENTION CONTROL PROGRAM

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Substance Abuse and Prevention Control Program has added a webpage dedicated to the Responsible Use Adult Use of Marijuana Act and the Department's role in marijuana regulation. Click here for more information.

The California Tobacco Control Program created an infographic which summarizes California laws that prohibit or restrict smoking within indoor and outdoor spaces. The infographic reflects changes to state law effective June 9, 2016, and lists specific places smoking is not allowed, and exemptions. For a copy of the infographic click here.

On June 9, 2016 a California law went into effect raising the minimum age for sale of tobacco products and tobacco paraphernalia from 18 to 21, except for active duty military personnel in the U.S. Armed Forces who will continue to be allowed to purchase tobacco at the age of 18 or older.

In addition, electronic smoking devices are included in the definition of tobacco products. This means products such as e-cigarettes, e-hookah, vape pens, vaping devices, mods, e-liquids, hookah, cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos/little cigars, chewing tobacco, snus, and pipe tobacco are covered by the law.

The California Tobacco Control Program has further resources pertaining to the new law for tobacco retailers and the public that can be found here.

The mission of the Coalition for a Tobacco Free LA County is to empower and mobilize communities to reduce tobacco-related death and disease throughout the County. The goals of the Coalition are to advocate for progressive tobacco control issues, policies, and actions within Los Angeles County; to mobilize the talents and resources of individuals, groups, and agencies to create a critical mass for promoting tobacco control efforts and strategies; to demonstrate widespread public support for tobacco control issues and actions, and address unmet needs; to collaborate with, advise and support the Tobacco Control and Prevention Program and to assist on high priority issues/projects; and to act as a spokesgroup regarding tobacco control issues within the community.

All residents and organizations within Los Angeles County and its surrounding areas that share the Coalition's mission and goals are invited to attend and contribute.

Questions? click here.