Cleveland Chapter 681 requires tobacco retailers to hold a city license and bans flavored tobacco sales, including menthol. Litigation with Ohio over preemption (HB 513, 2022) tied up the flavor ban before partial restoration in 2024.
Codified Ordinances Chapter 681 imposes a Cleveland-specific tobacco retail license, requires retailers to verify ID for buyers under 30, and bans the sale of flavored tobacco products including menthol cigarettes, fruit-flavored cigars, and flavored vape liquids. Ohio House Bill 513 in 2022 attempted to preempt local flavored tobacco bans, but Cleveland and Columbus sued; the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas struck down the preemption provision in 2023. Cleveland resumed enforcement in 2024 through the Department of Public Health, conducting compliance checks at convenience stores citywide.
Selling flavored products or to minors triggers fines, license suspension, and after repeated violations license revocation by Cleveland Department of Public Health and Division of Assessments and Licenses.
See how Cleveland's tobacco retail license rules stack up against other locations.
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