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

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Statute
H&S Code 104559.5
Voter ratification
Prop 31 in 2022
Exemptions
premium cigars, hookah, loose-leaf
Covers menthol
yes

Summary

Senate Bill 793, upheld by Proposition 31 in 2022, bans the retail sale of most flavored tobacco products and tobacco product flavor enhancers throughout Riverside, with limited exceptions for loose-leaf tobacco, premium cigars, and hookah lounge use.

(b) (1) A tobacco retailer, or any of the tobacco retailer's agents or employees, shall not sell, offer for sale, or possess with the intent to sell or offer for sale, a flavored tobacco product or a tobacco product flavor enhancer. (2) There is a rebuttable presumption that a tobacco product is a flavored tobacco product if a manufacturer or any of the manufacturer's agents or employees, in the course of their agency or employment, has made a statement or claim directed to consumers or to the public that the tobacco product has or produces a characterizing flavor, including, but not limited to, text, color, images, or all, on the product's labeling or packaging that are used to explicitly or implicitly communicate that the tobacco product has a characterizing flavor. (c) Subdivision (b) does not apply to the sale of flavored shisha tobacco products by a hookah tobacco retailer if all of the following conditions are met: (1) The hookah tobacco retailer has a valid license to sell tobacco products [...] (2) The hookah tobacco retailer does not permit any person under 21 years of age to be present or enter the premises at any time. [...] (d) Subdivision (b) does not apply to sales of premium cigars sold in cigar lounges where products are purchased and consumed only on the premises. (e) Subdivision (b) does not apply to looseleaf tobacco or premium cigars. [...] (i) This section does not preempt or otherwise prohibit the adoption of a local standard that imposes greater restrictions on the access to tobacco products than the restrictions imposed by this section.

Source: California Legislative InformationView official code

Full Breakdown

California Health and Safety Code section 104559.5 prohibits in-person sale of flavored cigarettes, cigars, e-cigarettes, vape pods, smokeless tobacco, and nicotine pouches. Menthol, mint, candy, and fruit flavors are all covered. Exemptions include shaped or pipe loose-leaf tobacco, premium cigars priced above the statutory threshold, and hookah served on-premises in licensed lounges. Riverside retailers face administrative fines per violation, and stocking flavored product is a separate violation. Online and mail-order sales to California addresses are also prohibited under SB 793 enforcement guidance.

Violations & Fines

Stocking, displaying, or selling banned flavored tobacco or vape products triggers per-violation fines, retailer license actions, and potential criminal referrals for repeat offenders.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are mint vape pods banned?
Yes, mint and menthol-flavored e-cigarettes and vape pods are prohibited from retail sale anywhere in California, including Riverside.
Can hookah lounges still operate?
Hookah served for on-premises consumption in a licensed hookah lounge is exempt, but retail sale of flavored hookah tobacco for off-site use is banned.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Riverside

All Riverside rules

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Flavored Tobacco Bans in Nearby Cities

How other cities in Riverside County handle flavored tobacco bans.

Temecula, CA
Heavy Restrictions