Tobacco and vape shops in Tigard and Tualatin can no longer legally sell flavored products. Washington County says enforcement authority is now in place.

Washington County's Ordinance 878, which bans the sale of all flavored tobacco and synthetic nicotine products, took effect July 1, 2026, according to the county's public health department.

The ban covers flavored vapes, menthol cigarettes, and any other flavored tobacco or nicotine product sold within county limits.

The ordinance also prohibits price promotions, coupons, and discounts on all tobacco and synthetic nicotine products, and bars sales from vehicles and vending machines.

"These bans are going to hurt tobacco or vaping stores that sell flavors, no question about it," Richard Burke, executive director of the 21+ Tobacco and Vapor Retail Association of Oregon, told The Oregonian on July 16. "For some, it might be existential."

Washington County's Board of Commissioners passed Ordinance 878 in November 2021. County voters approved it in May 2022. But a vape shop owner and a hookah cafe owner sued, arguing a state tobacco licensing law prevented the county from imposing its own regulations.

A trial court sided with the retailers. The Oregon Court of Appeals reversed that decision. Then on May 7, 2026, the Oregon Supreme Court unanimously upheld the ordinance, ruling it was compatible with state law.

The court sent the case back to Washington County Circuit Court to resolve final procedural issues.

Enforcement authorized, but details remain unclear

Washington County Public Health confirmed on its website, updated July 20, that it is now authorized to enforce the ban.

But retailers say they still lack clarity on what enforcement looks like in practice.

Burke said retailers do not know how the county will enforce the ban, whether an enforcement infrastructure is in place, or when active inspections will begin.

In a May 8 statement following the Supreme Court ruling, Washington County Public Health said it intends to support retailers with guidance, educational materials, and inspection steps to help them meet compliance.

No specific dates for retailer training sessions in Washington County have been publicly announced. As of July 16, the county had not responded to The Oregonian's questions about the compliance timeline.

Industry pushes alternatives

Burke's organization, which challenged the ban in court, advocates for alternative policies rather than outright prohibition. Those alternatives include limiting flavored tobacco sales to stores that only admit customers 21 and older, or requiring ID scanners at point of sale.

A statewide bill that would have banned flavored tobacco sales across Oregon died in committee in 2025.

What's next

Retailers in Tigard and Tualatin selling flavored tobacco or nicotine products are subject to the ban as of July 1. Washington County Public Health has signaled that retailer training sessions, both virtual and in-person, will come but has not set dates. Retailers looking for compliance guidance can check the county's Ordinance 878 page on the Washington County website.