Tobacco, electronic cigarette, and nicotine product sales

Utah has several laws and administrative rules that retailers need to comply with in order to sell tobacco, electronic cigarette, and nicotine products.

If a violation of any Utah tobacco code or administrative rule is found at the Utah tobacco retailer a civil penalty penalty will be issued against a tobacco retail permit:

First violation: $1,000 penalty imposed on tobacco retailer
Second violation (within 1 year of the first violation): $1,500 penalty imposed on tobacco retailer
Third violation (within 2 years of the previous 2 violations): Suspension of the tobacco permit for 30 consecutive business days, or $2,000 penalty imposed on tobacco retailer
Fourth violation (within 2 years of the previous 3 violations): $2,000 penalty imposed on tobacco retailer and revocation of the tobacco retailer permit.

Other possible civil and criminal penalties are listed in each section below.

For the definitions of tobacco products, electronic cigarette products, and nicotine products, please go to Utah Code § 76-10-101. Please contact the local health department for questions about whether these product definitions apply to a specific product the business is planning to sell or offer.

Underage sales

The percentage of Utah tobacco retailers who sold tobacco products, electronic cigarette products, or nicotine products to individuals younger than 21 during underage sale investigations was 7.3% in fiscal year 2023 (July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023).

The rates of non-compliance for the last 3 fiscal years have been:

7.3% for fiscal year 2023 (July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023)

8.8% for fiscal year 2022 (July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022)

10.6% for fiscal year 2021 (July 1, 2020-June 30, 2021)

Retailers play an important role in reducing access to tobacco products, electronic cigarette products, and nicotine products to individuals younger than 21.

Federal law requires a tobacco retailer to check the photo identification of a customer buying tobacco if the customer is younger than 27 (21 C.F.R. § 1140.14(b)).

Beginning September 30, 2024, retailers must check the photo identification of a customers buying tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes, if the customer is younger than 30 years old. (21 C.F.R. § 1140.14(b))

Law enforcement agencies are required to investigate the sale of tobacco products, electronic cigarette products, and nicotine products to underage individuals a minimum of two times within a 12-month period at each retailer that sells these products. Additional investigations are allowed if there is reasonable suspicion to believe the establishment has sold a tobacco product, an electronic cigarette product, or a nicotine product to an individual younger than 21 (Utah Code § 77-39-101).

These underage sale investigations are conducted using individuals younger than 21 in coordination with the police and local health departments. The underage individual is sent into the business to purchase a tobacco product, an electronic cigarette product, or a nicotine product. Stores that sell tobacco products, electronic cigarette products, or nicotine products to individuals younger than 21, are issued fines, and may not be allowed to sell these products in the future.

Two penalties can be given if the retailer sells tobacco products, electronic cigarette products, or nicotine products to an individual younger than 21.

A civil penalty can be given by the local health department to the tobacco permit holder of the store (Utah code § 26B-7-514, 26B-7-517, 26B-7-518)

A criminal penalty can be given by police to the individual retailer employee or owner who sold the product (Utah code § 76-10-114)

Civil penalty – general tobacco retailer

Violation

A Civil penalty is issued to a general tobacco retailer when someone sells to an individual younger than 21 years of age.

First violation

$1,000 penalty imposed on tobacco retailer
$2,000 penalty imposed on tobacco retailer when the violation is committed by the owner of the general tobacco retailer

Second violation*

$1,500 penalty imposed on tobacco retailer
$5,000 penalty imposed on tobacco retailer and revocation of general tobacco retailer permit when the violation is committed by the owner of the general tobacco retailer
*Violations and penalties are based on the second violation within 1 year of the first violation

Third violation**

Suspension of the tobacco permit for 30 consecutive business days, or $2,000 penalty imposed on tobacco retailer
**Violations and penalties are based on the third violation within 2 years of the previous 2 violations

Fourth violation***

$2,000 penalty imposed on tobacco retailer and revocation of general tobacco retailer permit
***Violation and penalties are based on the fourth violation within 2 years of the previous 3 violations

Civil monetary penalties can be reduced if the holder of the tobacco license provides proof of an employee training program and that all employees who sell a tobacco product, an electronic cigarette product, or a nicotine product have been trained.

Civil penalty – retail tobacco specialty business

Violation

A Civil penalty is issued to a retail tobacco specialty business when someone sells to an individual younger than 21 years of age.

First violation

$5,000 penalty imposed on tobacco retailer and immediately suspend the permit for 30 consecutive days.
The local health department may also recommend the municipality revoke the retail tobacco specialty business license issued under Utah code § 10-8-41.6 or 17-50-333.

Second violation*

$10,000 penalty imposed on tobacco retailer and revoke the tobacco permit for the retail tobacco specialty business
**Violation and penalties are based on the second violation within 2 years of the first violation

Civil monetary penalties can be reduced if the holder of the tobacco license provides proof of an employee training program and that all employees who sell a tobacco product, an electronic cigarette product, or a nicotine product have been trained.

Criminal penalty

A criminal penalty can be given by police to the individual retail employee or owner who sold the product (Utah Code § 76-10-114).

1st offense: Infraction and subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000; or compensatory service.

Subsequent offenses: Class C Misdemeanor and subject to a fine not exceeding $2,000; or compensatory service.

Tobacco paraphernalia

It is illegal to sell tobacco paraphernalia to individuals younger than 21 years of age. (Utah Code § 76-10-104.1)

An individual who violates this section is guilty of:

1st offense: Class C misdemeanor
Subsequent offense: Class B misdemeanor

For examples of tobacco paraphernalia see Utah Code § 76-10-101(18).

Penalties for underage purchases

It is illegal for individuals younger than 21 years of age to purchase or have in their possession a tobacco product, electronic cigarette product, or nicotine product: (Utah Code § 76-10-105).

An offender who is 18-years-old or older, but younger than 21-years-old: guilty of an infraction; and subject to a $60 fine; and participation in a tobacco education program
An offender under the age of 18-years-old: subject to a fine or penalty, in accordance with Section 80-6-701; and participation in a tobacco education program

In-person sale laws

In Utah, a business can only sell tobacco products, electronic cigarette products, or nicotine products to a customer in person, meaning a business cannot sell any of these products to a customer by telephone, mail, the internet, or through self-service displays. There are two exceptions to this law:

Tobacco retailers are allowed to sell tobacco products, electronic cigarette products, or nicotine products by telephone, mail or the internet only to buyers who have a tobacco license.

Retail tobacco specialty businesses are allowed to have self-service displays, such as vending machines.

Those who break this law can be given a criminal penalty. This law is meant to keep tobacco products, electronic cigarette products, and nicotine products away from individuals younger than 21 years of age. Within a store, it’s easier for the cashier to check for identification. This is more difficult when the sale happens over the phone or online. We encourage retailers to change their business policy to prevent the sale of tobacco products, electronic cigarette products, or nicotine products to unlicensed customers.

Click here to report an illegal sale or distribution of a tobacco product, electronic cigarette product or nicotine product. Complaints can be submitted anonymously. For questions, please contact TPCP Retail and Compliance Specialist Camille Jessop at cjessop@utah.gov.

For more information, see Utah Code § 76-10-105.1, 59-14-509, 59-14-808.

Itemized receipts and itemized transaction logs

All tobacco retailers shall provide the customer with an itemized receipt for each sale of a tobacco product, an electronic cigarette product, or a nicotine product that separately identifies:

the name of the tobacco product, the electronic cigarette product, or the nicotine product;

the amount charged for each tobacco product, electronic cigarette product, or nicotine product; and

the date and time of the sale;

In addition, all tobacco retailers are required to maintain an itemized transaction log for each sale of a tobacco product, an electronic cigarette product, or a nicotine product that separately identifies:

the name of the tobacco product, the electronic cigarette product, or the nicotine product;

the amount charged for each tobacco product, electronic cigarette product, or nicotine product; and

the date and time of the sale.

The itemized transaction log shall be maintained by tobacco retailers for at least one year after the date of each transaction in the itemized transaction log, which must be made available to an enforcing agency or a peace officer at their request.

For more information, please see Utah code § 26B-7-512.

Clove cigarettes

Utah law prohibits the sale or gift of clove cigarettes. (Utah Code § 76-10-105.3)

Any person who violates this section is guilty of:

Class B misdemeanor

Electronic cigarette registry

Click here for the electronic cigarette registry. (Look under: Tools>Electronic Cigarette Tools)

Beginning January 1, 2025, a person may not sell or offer for retail sale an electronic cigarette product in Utah that is not on the electronic cigarette registry.(Utah Code § 59-14-810)

In order for an electronic cigarette product to be considered for the electronic cigarette registry it must meet the following definition:

Premarket authorized or pending electronic cigarette product

The product has been approved by an order granting a premarket tobacco product application (PMTA) of the electronic cigarette product by the U.S. FDA; or
was marketed in the United States on or before August 8, 2016; the PMTA was submitted to the U.S. FDA on or before September 9, 2020; and the PMTA either remains under review by the U.S. FDA or a final decision on the application as not taken effect; and
does not exceed: 4.0% nicotine by weight per container; or a nicotine concentration of 40 milligrams per milliliter

Civil penalty – Local Health Department – Tobacco Retailer Permit

Beginning January 1, 2025, a person may not sell an electronic cigarette product that is not a premarket authorized or pending electronic cigarette product. (Utah Code § 26B-7-505) A local health department may conduct inspections on Utah tobacco retail establishments for the purpose of determining compliance with Section 59-14-810. (Utah Code § 26A-1-131)

If any electronic cigarette product is offered for sale that is in violation of Section 59-14-80 the product will be declared to be a contraband good and shall be immediately embargoed by the local health department.

The cost of embargoing shall be borne by the retailer.
The retailer shall remove any embargoed electronic cigarette product from the retailer’s active inventory and work with the wholesaler or distributor to return or dispose of the electronic cigarette product.

Monetary civil penalty assessed to retailer by a local health department under this section shall be doubled if the retailer fails to provided documentation establishing a clear chain of custody back to the manufacturer.

Civil penalty – Tax Commission

Beginning January 1, 2025, a person may not sell or offer for retail sale an electronic cigarette product in Utah that is not included in the registry. (Utah Code § 59-14-810)

A retailer who sells or offers for retail sale an electronic cigarette product in Utah that is not included in the registry shall be subject to a civil penalty of:

$1,000 for each product offered for sale; and
$100 per day until the offending product is removed from the market or until the offending product is properly listed on the registry.

The commission shall suspend the person’s license for a violation as follows:

Second violation within a 12-month period, at least 14 days;
Third violation within a 12-month period, at least 60 days; or
Fourth violation within a 12-month period, at least one year.

Criminal penalty

Beginning on January 1, 2025, it is unlawful for a person to give, distribute, sell, offer for sale, or furnish to any person an electronic cigarette product that is not a premarket authorized or pending electronic cigarette product. (Utah Code § 76-10-113)

An individual who violates this section is guilty of:

1st offense: class C misdemeanor; and
Subsequent offense: class B misdemeanor

Flavored electronic cigarette products

Utah law prohibits a retailer that is permitted as a general tobacco retailer from giving, distributing, selling, offering for sale, furnishing a flavored electronic cigarette product. Only retailers permitted as a retail tobacco specialty business are allowed to sell flavored electronic cigarette products. (Utah Code § 76-10-113)

Beginning January 1, 2025, it will be unlawful for a person to give, distribute, sell, offer for sale, or furnish to any person a flavored electronic cigarette product.
This includes tobacco retailers that are permitted as either a:

General Tobacco Retailer; or
Retail Tobacco Specialty Business

An individual who violates this section is guilty of:

1st offense: class C misdemeanor
Subsequent offense: class B misdemeanor

For examples of what is considered a flavored electronic cigarette product*, please go to Utah Code § 76-10-101(7).

*As of July 1, 2024 the ‘Mint’ flavor is included in the definition of a flavored electronic cigarette product.

Requirements to sell electronic cigarette products

Administrative Rule R384-415 will be amended to align with Utah code. Once that amendment goes into effect the website will be updated.

The Utah Department of Health and Human Services has established requirements to sell an electronic cigarette product regarding labeling, nicotine content, packaging, and product quality for non-manufacturer sealed electronic cigarette substances and manufacturer sealed electronic cigarette products. The authority for these requirements can be found in Utah Code § 26B-7-505 and Utah Administrative Rule R384-415.

The rule requirements for non-manufacturer sealed electronic cigarette substances (otherwise known as e-liquids), have been enforced since July 1, 2017.

The rule requirements for manufacturer sealed electronic cigarette products (otherwise known as a sealed electronic cigarette pods, cartridges, and disposables) have been enforced since September 9, 2021.

Labeling

Labels should be clear and list accurate information. The rule requires:

The labels have a safety warning.
The safety warning should take up 30 percent of the container’s display panel.
Products that contain nicotine follow the same safety warning standards as required by the FDA and state: “WARNING: This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.”
The warning for nicotine-free non-manufacturer sealed electronic cigarette substances states: “WARNING: Keep away from children and pets.”
Any industrial hemp products that are either a non-manufacturer sealed electronic cigarette substance or a manufacturer sealed electronic cigarette product must be compliant with Title 4, Chapter 41, Part 1, Industrial Hemp and Section R68-26-5.

Prohibited sales

The retailer shall be prohibited from selling an an electronic cigarette substance or an electronic cigarette product if they are labeled as having:

additives that create the impression that the product has a health benefit;

additives that are associated with health or energy;

illegal drugs; and

additives that color the vapor.

The retailer shall be prohibited from selling an electronic cigarette substance or an electronic cigarette product that has received a Premarket Tobacco Product Application (PMTA) denial from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), if:

no appeal of the PMTA denial was filed; or

all appeals have ben exhausted and the PMTA denial was affirmed.

Any industrial hemp products that are either a non-manufacturer sealed electronic cigarette substance or a manufacturer sealed electronic cigarette product must be compliant with Title 4, Chapter 41, Part 1, Industrial Hemp and Section R68-26-5 and Section R68-33-5.

Nicotine content

The retailer shall be prohibited from selling a non-manufacturer sealed electronic cigarette substance or a manufacturer sealed electronic cigarette product to the consumer if the product is not compliant with one of the following:

the nicotine concentration for an electronic cigarette product or substance that is not subject to a PMTA order from the FDA:

for a non-manufacturer sealed electronic cigarette substance is limited to 360 mg nicotine per container, or does not exceed a 24mg/mL concentration of nicotine; or

for a manufacturer sealed electronic cigarette product is limited to 5% by weight per container or does not exceed a 59mg/mL concentration of nicotine;

the electronic cigarette product or substance received a PMTA denial from the FDA, but FDA or a court orders or otherwise permits ongoing sales during the pendency of an appeal; or

the electronic cigarette product or substance received a PMTA approval from FDA.

Product quality

Retailers shall only sell or offer for sale electronic cigarette products meeting federal tobacco product standards.
Retailers shall only sell or offer for sale electronic cigarette products with PMTA or Substantial Equivalent application approval.

A manufacturer or retailer may continue to sell an electronic cigarette product that has not yet received an affirmative marketing order from the FDA by September 9, 2021, if the following criteria are met:

the electronic cigarette product complies with all of the requirements of Utah administrative rule R384-415;

the manufacturer submitted a timely Pre-Market Tobacco application or Substantial Equivalent application to the FDA by September 9, 2020; and

the FDA has not issued a written marketing order.

Record keeping

Retailers shall provide non-manufacturer sealed electronic cigarette substance transaction statements, or manufacturer sealed electronic cigarette product transaction statements, confirming their products meet the requirements of the state rule, to the local health department within 14 calendar days of a request.

Retailers shall have access to the non-manufacturer sealed electronic cigarette substance transaction statements, or manufacturer sealed electronic cigarette product transaction statements, that confirm the products meet the requirements of the state rule for a period of two years after the retailer purchases the products.

Packaging

Non-manufacturer sealed electronic cigarette substance packaging: Needs to meet the standard of child-resistance laid out by the FDA and be compliant with federal standards and law concerning child nicotine poisoning prevention.
Non-manufacturer sealed electronic cigarette substance and manufacturer sealed electronic cigarette product packaging: Product packaging shall be sold in the product’s original packaging.
Non-manufacturer sealed electronic cigarette substances and manufacture sealed electronic cigarette products: Cannot be repackaged or dispensed for retail sale.
Manufacturer sealed electronic cigarette: products that are not intended to be opened by a retailer or a consumer cannot be refilled.
Any industrial hemp products that are either a non-manufacturer sealed electronic cigarette substance or a manufacturer sealed electronic cigarette product must be compliant with Title 4 Chapter 41, Part 1, Industrial Hemp; and Rule R68-26.

Proper management of e-cigarette waste

Electronic cigarette products that do not receive an affirmative marketing order from the FDA and do not comply with Utah Administrative Rule R384-415 are illegal, and must be removed from retailer shelves and disposed of appropriately.

For more information on how to properly dispose of electronic cigarette products please visit ‘Utah Division of Waste Management & Radiation Control’

For questions, please contact the Utah Division of Waste Management & Radiation control staff:

Judy Moran at (801) 536-0255 or jmoran@utah.gov
Deborah Ng at (801) 536-0218 or dng@utah.gov

Local ordinances

Local health departments have additional ordinances governing the sale of tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes. It is important for retailers to understand these local ordinances in addition to the state and federal rules. Reach out to the local health department where the business is located for a comprehensive list of applicable local ordinances.

Find the local health department’s contact information here.

Disclaimer

Any information submitted on this website may be shared with other government entities as permitted by law, including local health departments, for the purposes of investigation and enforcement.