In a mandate that applies to all unincorporated areas of the county, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors today voted to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products and e-cigarettes.
There are currently 79 licensed tobacco retailers in unincorporated Sonoma County, 23 percent of the total tobacco retailers throughout the county including cities, according to county figures.
Supervisors said the changes to the county’s tobacco retail ordinance are in response to public health data that show e-cigarettes and flavored tobacco use increasing among high school-aged youth.
“Today’s action signals the Board’s ongoing commitment to the health and safety of local youth,” said Supervisor Chris Coursey, board chair. “By banning the sale of certain tobacco products that have pervaded youth culture, we can make it harder for children to access these dangerous products.”
In Sonoma County, 46 percent of 11th graders said they have used an e-cigarette, and 76 percent report that it is “fairly” or “very” easy to obtain e-cigarettes, according to the California Healthy Kids Survey.
Sonoma County’s ordinance aligns with the cities of Petaluma, Sebastopol and Windsor, which have also outlawed the sale of e-cigarettes and flavored tobacco. The new ban does not affect retailers within the City of Sonoma.
Since 2022, California law has prohibited the sale of most flavored tobacco products, with some exemptions. The law, however, allows local jurisdictions such as Sonoma County to adopt more restrictive flavor policies.
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