Compton, CA Tobacco & Vaping: Flavored Tobacco Bans (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Municipal Code § 7-23A.8
- Ban scope
- Flavored tobacco and menthol cigarettes
- Effective delay
- 90 days after Ord. No. 2320 (2020)
- Little cigar minimum pack
- 20 units
- Specialty shop exemption threshold
- 60%+ revenue from tobacco
Summary
Compton bans the sale of flavored tobacco products and menthol cigarettes citywide under Municipal Code § 7-23A.8, effective 90 days after adoption of Ordinance No. 2320 in 2020. The ban covers flavors imparted to cigarettes, vapes, and any nicotine delivery device, with a narrow carve-out for specialty tobacco shops that meet strict age and revenue conditions.
§ 7-23A.8 d. After 90 days of the effective date of this section, it shall be a violation of this section for a tobacco retailer, its agent (s) or employee(s) to sell or offer for sale, or to possess with the intent to sell or offer for sale, any flavored tobacco product or any component, part, or accessory intended to impart, or imparting a characterizing flavor in any form, to any tobacco product or nicotine delivery device, including electronic smoking devices. e. After 90 days of the effective date of this section, it shall be a violation of this section for a tobacco retailer, its agent (s) or employee(s) to sell or offer for sale, or to possess with the intent to sell or offer for sale, any menthol cigarette.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4952997; v15 updated 2026-07-14; through 07-14-2026).
Full Breakdown
1 defines "characterizing flavor" to include tastes or aromas such as mint, fruit, chocolate, vanilla, candy, and alcoholic beverage, whether added to a cigarette, cigar, or an electronic smoking device. 8d makes it a violation for a tobacco retailer, agent, or employee to sell, offer for sale, or possess with intent to sell any flavored tobacco product, or any component or accessory intended to impart a characterizing flavor to a tobacco product or nicotine delivery device, including electronic smoking devices. 8e separately bans menthol cigarettes on the same 90-day timeline.
8f and h require any little cigars or cigarillos that are sold to be packaged in units of at least 20; single sticks are banned. 8g exempts the menthol prohibition only for a retailer that primarily sells tobacco products, generates more than 60% of its annual gross revenue from tobacco sales, excludes anyone under 21 from the premises unless accompanied by a parent or guardian, sells no alcohol or on-site food, and posts a sign restricting entry to adults.
Violations & Fines
A violation of § 7-23A.8 is enforced the same as any other Tobacco Retailer's Permit violation: it can draw a permit suspension of up to 30 days on a first offense, up to a year on a second, and permanent revocation on a third within a three-year period under § 7-23A.9, and each day of continued flavored-tobacco sales is a separate violation under § 7-23A.10.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are menthol cigarettes banned in Compton?
Does Compton's flavor ban apply to flavored vape liquid?
Is any store exempt from Compton's flavored tobacco ban?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Compton
California rules heatmap·Compare Compton to another location·View the California tobacco & vaping overview
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Flavored Tobacco Bans in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle flavored tobacco bans.