Ban on the Sale of All Tobacco Products in Beverly Hills
On June 4, 2019, the Beverly Hills City Council unanimously approved an ordinance to prohibit the sale of tobacco products in the City starting on January 1, 2021.
The key provisions of the ordinance include:
- A permanent exemption/carve out for three existing cigar lounges;
- Effective January 1, 2021, hotels, existing and future, may only sell to guests;
- Effective January 1, 2021, all other businesses shall stop selling tobacco products;
- A hardship exemption provision for retailers that demonstrate the ban would cause undue hardship; and
- City Council review of the impacts on tourism in three years.
Notwithstanding of the January 1, 2021 date, the sale of flavored tobacco products is already prohibited. Please see additional information below.
APPLY FOR A TOBACCO HARDSHIP EXEMPTION
On June 4, 2019, the City Council adopted Ordinance # 19-O-2783 to prohibit the retail sale of tobacco products and electronic cigarette paraphernalia. The ordinance includes provision for a Hardship Exemption. Specifically, the ordinance allows tobacco permittees, other than cigar lounges and hotels, to apply for a hardship exemption, which if granted would allow the permittee to continue to sell tobacco products for a limited period of time.
A permittee must submit a complete application for a hardship exemption at least ninety (90) days before the permit is set to expire. The permittee shall bear the burden of proof in establishing by a preponderance of the evidence, that the application of Section 4-2-2115 to the permittee's business is unreasonable, and will cause significant hardship to the permittee by not allowing the permittee to recover his or her investment backed expectations.
The application for a hardship exemption accompanied by a filing fee will be reviewed by a Hearing Officer, or City Council on appeal by the applicant to determine whether to grant a hardship exemption to the permittee, and the appropriate length of time that the permittee will be authorized to continue to operate as a tobacco retailer.
Retailers who wish to apply for a hardship exemption may submit a complete application to the City's Regulatory Permits/Business Tax Division no later than October 2, 2020. For more information, please contact (310) 285-2424.
View the September 1, 2020 Agenda Report (approving $1,500 application fee for a hardship exemption)
Reports and Public Meetings
| Ordinance No. 19-O-2783 | 19-O-2783 | |
| 2019-06-04 City Council Formal Meeting | Report | Video |
| 2019-05-21 City Council Formal Meeting | Report | Video |
| 2019-05-07 City Council Formal Meeting | Report | Video |
| 2019-04-29 Health and Safety Commission Meeting | Report Report |
Video |
| 2019-04-22 Health and Safety Commission Meeting | Report Report |
Video |
| 2019-04-09 Health and Safety Commission Liaison Committee Meeting | Report | Highlights |
| 2019-03-25 Health and Safety Commission Meeting | Report | Video |
| 2019-02-25 Health and Safety Commission Meeting | Report | Video |
| 2019-02-05 City Council Study Session | Report | Video |
Ban on Sales of Flavored Tobacco Products
As of December 21, 2018, the City of Beverly Hills prohibits the sale of flavored tobacco products. The law applies to all tobacco retailers within Beverly Hills. Any tobacco retailer that sells a flavored tobacco product is in violation of the requirements for operation under its Tobacco and Electronic Cigarette Retailer Permit. A first violation to a permit condition is $250. A second violation within a five-year period is $750 and the permit is suspended for 90 days. A third violation within a five-year period is $1,000 and the permit shall be revoked.
A flavored tobacco product is any tobacco product that imparts a characterizing flavor other than the taste or aroma of tobacco, including, but not limited to, menthol, mint, wintergreen, fruit, chocolate, vanilla, honey, candy, cocoa, dessert, alcoholic beverage, herb, or spice.
The flavor ban applies to all tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, snuff, chewing tobacco, smokeless tobacco, and electronic cigarettes. Menthol cigarettes are included in the ban on flavored products. Products authorized by the United States Food and Drug Administration as a tobacco cessation product, such as nicotine gum, are not included in the ban.
For more information, please contact (310) 285-2424.
Reports and Public Meetings
| Final Ordinance | Ordinance | |
| 2018-08-21 City Council Formal Session | Report | Video |
| 2018-08-07 City Council Formal Session | Report | Video |
| 2018-08-07 City Council Study Session | Report | Video |
| 2018-02-26 Health and Safety Commission Meeting | Report | Video |
| 2018-01-22 Health and Safety Commission Meeting | Report | Video |
| 2017-11-30 City Council Liaisons Meeting | Report | Highlights |
Prospective Businesses
Generally speaking, the City treats e-cigarette and smoke shop use establishments the same if located in commercial zones where retail establishments are allowed. If you are a potential business owner interested in establishing a tobacco or e-cigarette business, please contact:
Development Services
Phone: (310) 285-1141
Current Businesses
The City's local regulations require tobacco and e-cigarette retailers to annually apply for a city permit to sell such products. The sales of such items from stand-alone vending machines are not allowed. For information about the tobacco and e-cigarette permit process, please contact:
Customer Service Division
Phone: (310) 285-2424
Code Violations
To report a code violation, please contact:
Beverly Hills Code Enforcement
Phone: (310) 285-1119
Policies in Development
For questions related to policies currently in development, please contact City Manager's Office
Phone: (310) 285-1014
