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In May 2004, the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors approved a local ordinance (Title 4, Chapter 4.07 of the Sacramento County Code) that requires all tobacco retailers in the unincorporated areas of Sacramento County to obtain a business license and have an unannounced inspection performed once per year to ensure compliance to regulations regarding sale of tobacco and tobacco products.
Since 2004, representatives from the Sacramento County Environmental Management Department (EMD) have been conducting annual inspections at tobacco retailer facilities. The purpose of these inspections is to prevent the sale of tobacco and tobacco products to under age purchasers. The following items are inspected for compliance:
- Display of Tobacco Retailer License.
- Display of appropriate signage prohibiting the sale of tobacco and tobacco products to minors.
- Display of cigarettes in a manner that prevents self-service of cigarettes to the public.
- Proper packaging of cigarettes and "roll-your-own" tobacco.
- Selling bidis (also spelled "beedis", hand-rolled filterless cigarettes imported from India and some Southeast Asian countries) in only those facilities that prohibit the presence of minors.
- No flavored tobacco
Flavored Tobacco Ban
The Flavored Tobacco Ban took effect on July 25, 2022 in Sacramento County Ordinance 4.07 Tobacco Retailers. The ban prohibits Tobacco Retail License holders from selling any tobacco product or byproduct including but not limited to cigars, cigarillos, vape liquid, and hookah tobacco that imparts a characterizing flavor.
While the State of California exempts loose leaf tobacco and certain cigars, the County of Sacramento does not.
If a business is found to have any flavored tobacco or nicotine product available to customers (a violation of their license), the business may be subject to suspension.
What is a Flavored Tobacco Product?
“Tobacco Product" shall be defined in Business and Professions Code Section 22950.5 below:
(d)(1) “Tobacco product" means any of the following:
- A product containing, made, or derived from tobacco or nicotine that is intended for human consumption, whether smoked, heated, chewed, absorbed, dissolved, inhaled, snorted, sniffed, or ingested by any other means, including but not limited to, cigarettes, cigars, little cigars, chewing tobacco, pipe tobacco, or snuff.
- An electronic device that delivers nicotine or other vaporized liquids to the person inhaling from the device, including, but not limited to, an electronic cigarette, cigar, pipe, or hookah.
- Any component, part, or accessory of a tobacco product, whether or not sold separately.
A tobacco product is a flavored tobacco product, as described in Sacramento County Ordinance § 4.07.100 License Violation, if:
- A manufacturer or its agents or employees has made a public statement or claim that the tobacco product has or produces a characterizing flavor.
- Including, but not limited to, text, color, or images on the product's labeling or packaging that are used to expressly or impliedly communicate that a tobacco product has a characterizing flavor.
“Characterizing flavor":
Means a taste or aroma, other than the taste or aroma of tobacco, imparted either prior to or during consumption of a tobacco product or any byproduct produced by the tobacco product, including, but not limited to, tastes or aromas relating to menthol, mint, wintergreen, fruit, chocolate, vanilla, honey, candy, cocoa, dessert, alcohol beverage, herb, or spice
Questions about flavored tobacco?
Contact the Business License manager at: BusLicense@saccounty.gov
For more information:
For additional information or if you have comments about the Tobacco Retailer Inspection Program please contact EMD at the address below:
Sacramento County Environmental Management Department
Environmental Health Division
11080 White Rock Rd., Suite 200
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
916-875-8440
916-875-8513 (fax)
emdinfo@saccounty.gov
