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
Get a Map!

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 click here.

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

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.

An 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 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.

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.

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. These changes affect places where smoking is prohibited at County facilities, at Outdoor Dining Establishments and around Mobile Food Establishments that operate in unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County.

For more information about where smoking is prohibited at County facilities, please see the following fact sheet.

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

• 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.

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. 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.

For more information about the changes on smoke-free Dining and Mobile Food Establishments, please see the following fact sheet.

To see a copy of the Ordinance, click here.

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

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.

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.