Seattle enforces the federal Tobacco 21 minimum age and Washington RCW 70.345 (effective Jan 2020), prohibiting all tobacco and vape sales to anyone under 21. Washington licenses retailers through the Liquor and Cannabis Board, and Public Health – Seattle & King County conducts compliance checks. There is no statewide flavor ban; a King County flavored-vape ban was rescinded by a court in 2020.
Seattle applies the federal Tobacco 21 law (Dec 2019) and Washington State RCW 70.345 (Tobacco, Vapor Product, and Nicotine Product Regulation), which raised the state minimum age to 21 effective January 1, 2020. RCW 70.345.030 prohibits sales of cigarettes, cigars, vapor products, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches, and any tobacco or nicotine product to persons under 21. The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) issues retailer licenses and conducts compliance checks. Public Health – Seattle & King County partners with LCB on local enforcement. Seattle Municipal Code does not add city-level age requirements beyond state law. King County briefly enacted a flavored vape ban in 2019 (Board of Health Rule 19-04), but it was rescinded by court order in 2020. Photo ID must be checked for any purchaser appearing under 30, and retailers must post WA-mandated signage at the point of sale.
First retailer violation: $50 fine; second within 2 years: $100; third: $200; fourth: $1,500 plus 7-day license suspension. Fifth offense triggers license revocation per WAC 314-10. Furnishing tobacco or vapor products to a minor under 21 is a Class 3 civil infraction with fines up to $50 for the purchaser and higher for furnishing adults. Missing age signage is a separate violation.
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