It has been nearly 20 years since vaping took off in popularity. Now, states and cities have clamped down on retailers and users to help keep kids from getting hooked on nicotine. Vapes started out as (and are still used for) a way to quit smoking. Then they took on a character of their own. They became popular in a way that reflects a culture or lifestyle. Soon flavored vapes became cool options for kids, and states took notice and didn’t want youth turning to these products that could maybe get them hooked on nicotine.
California has implemented a range of laws and regulations to govern the use and sale of vaping products. Some people wonder about California vaping laws and whether vaping is illegal in California. It may seem like it, with all the state’s age restrictions, location-based prohibitions, rules on flavored products, and the penalties for violations.
The big picture in California is this: There are stringent laws on selling flavored tobacco and vapes. Stores that sell to customers under age 21 are subject to heavy fines, and the state has increased the frequency of its sting operations to catch those who break this law. It is obvious that California is not playing games when it comes to preventing minors from obtaining e-cigarettes.
What are the Laws Regarding Flavored Tobacco and Vapes?
Is there a flavored vape ban California upholds in the state? In 2020, California took a big step to tackle the attraction of vaping among youth. It banned the sale of flavored tobacco products, including vape juices. The law took effect on December 21, 2022. Hookah tobacco, pipe tobacco, and premium cigars are exempt.
Since January 1, 2025, California has updated its laws. By December 31, 2025, an Unflavored Tobacco List (UTL) will be published, and all products not on that list will be considered illegal in California.
Age Restrictions
Kids are the target of California’s vaping laws. Why? The state sees vapes as a lead-in to nicotine addiction, so it set up rules to protect kids. Retailers are expected to stay within the vaping age limit in California that makes it illegal to sell vapes to minors.
Here’s California’s rule about selling to minors: It is illegal to sell or provide electronic cigarettes or any tobacco products to individuals under 21, a rule that aligns with federal tobacco laws. Retailers must verify the age of customers who appear younger than 27 by checking identification.
Location-Based Prohibitions
If you didn’t know vaping in public places was prohibited in so many California locations, it’s true, and this applies to everyone. Just like with smoking cigarettes, in California you can’t vape in enclosed spaces. That means it’s not allowed in businesses, restaurants, nightclubs, and subways. It’s not allowed in schools and within 25 feet of playgrounds or tot lots. Lots of cities have made it illegal to vape in public places like sidewalks, parks, and beaches. This is to shield people from secondhand vapor and to reduce vaping’s visibility to youth.
Taxes on Vapes are High in California
Another thing that would make people think vaping is illegal in California is the high taxes the state charges on vapes. It can feel even higher than the cigarette tax in California because the vape tax is added on to the price at checkout, vs. included in the price of a pack of cigarettes.
Public Health Campaigns Against Vaping
California runs extensive anti-vaping campaigns that may contribute to the perception that vaping is universally harmful and discouraged. This aggressive messaging often overshadows vaping’s potential as a less harmful option for adult smokers quitting cigarettes, creating a one-sided perspective that vaping is unsafe.
It is Legal to Vape in California, But with Rules.
Vaping is not totally banned in California. There are some pretty strict rules around it. People who are 21 and older can buy and use vaping products, but they have to stick to the allowed spots and steer clear of banned flavors. If you’re wondering about a flavored vape ban California has instituted, know that it has taken a hard line on youth vaping, and they see it as balancing individual rights with community well-being.
But with all the regulations, does it look like California may be outlawing vaping? If you add up the pressure of public health campaigns, taxes, restrictions on the types of vapes a person can buy, and penalties for retailers and people vaping underage or in prohibited places, you’d almost be led to believe that. People who enjoy vaping can still do so in the state, but they have to follow the laws. Stay tuned for further vape regulations updates from California, which may be coming.
Let us know what you think about vaping restrictions in the comments below.
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