Glendale, CA Tobacco & Vaping: Flavored Tobacco Bans (2026)

020 defines "characterizing flavor" as any taste or aroma other than tobacco itself imparted to a tobacco product or its byproduct, expressly naming menthol, mint, wintergreen, fruit, chocolate, vanilla, honey, candy, cocoa, dessert, alcoholic beverage, herb, or spice, and it covers flavor added in any form to a tobacco product or nicotine delivery device, including electronic smoking devices. 110(A) makes it a violation for a tobacco retailer or its agents or employees to sell, offer for sale, or possess with intent to sell any flavored tobacco product or any component intended to impart a characterizing flavor.

Two exceptions apply: the ban does not reach hookah tobacco sold in a form usable only in a non-electronic hookah or water pipe, and it does not reach premium cigars, defined as handmade cigars with a wholesale price of at least $12, a wrapper made entirely of whole tobacco leaf, no filter, tip, or nontobacco mouthpiece, and hand-capped construction. 110(B) creates a rebuttable presumption that a retailer found with four or more flavored tobacco products, or components meant to impart a characterizing flavor, possesses them with intent to sell.

110(C) creates a further rebuttable presumption that a product is flavored if the retailer or manufacturer publicly claims it imparts a characterizing flavor, or if its packaging or labeling text or images say so. 100(A) directs police, neighborhood services inspectors, code enforcement personnel, and permit investigators to specifically check flavored-tobacco compliance during routine inspections.