Manhattan Beach, Calif. Bans All Tobacco Sales

Manhattan Beach, Calif. has banned the sale of tobacco products within city limits.

Effective Jan. 1, 2021, the city will no longer allow retailers to sell tobacco products—including e-cigarettes and vaping products—within city limits. As was the case when Beverly Hills, Calif. enacted a similar law, there is the potential for exemptions to be granted.

Between Sept. 1-Oct. 31, 2020, retailers will be able to apply for a hardship exemption. Those exemptions—which could be granted if a retailer proves the new law will cause “significant hardship” to a business—would not be indefinite, the time limits would be set by the Manhattan Beach City Council.

The new law, which simply reads, “It shall be unlawful for any person to sell a tobacco product or electronic smoking device in the City,” doesn’t provide a clear guidance about whether mail-order retailers shipped into the city would still be permitted.

Manhattan Beach is located just over 20 miles southwest of downtown Los Angeles and is home to approximately 35,500 residents.