For close to 25 years, the annual “State of Tobacco Control” report has graded states and the federal government on their implementation and enforcement of policies proven to prevent and reduce tobacco use. While California continues to push for new and effective tobacco control policies, it is apparent that local policy change lies at the heart of the state’s fight against tobacco use.
In conjunction with the national report, the State of Tobacco Control 2026- California Local Grades report issues grades for all 482 cities and 58 counties in California on policies for Smokefree Outdoor Air, Smokefree Housing, Flavored Tobacco and Reducing Sales of Tobacco Products. This report identifies local governments as the driving force behind California’s innovations in fighting tobacco use. Despite widespread local level policy change, tobacco remains the nation’s leading cause of preventable death and disease, taking an estimated 490,000 lives each year. It is essential that California continues to push for the protection of all residents. The American Lung Association and its partners continue to call for immediate action by communities to reduce smoking rates, protect all individual in the U.S. from secondhand smoke, and ultimately eliminate the deaths and diseases caused by tobacco use.
In 2025, tobacco control policies in California showed major growth in strengthening safeguards for public health, youth, and communities across the state. From 2016 to 2025, policy trends indicate robust progress in smokefree outdoor air, smokefree housing, tobacco retail licensing, and reducing the sale of flavored tobacco.
The City of Pittsburg has made significant changes to their policies by adopting a comprehensive tobacco retail license, smokefree outdoor air policies, and protections to multi-unit housing. The American Lung Association applauds all public health advocates continuing to advance local tobacco control policies. From Northern California, the unincorporated county of Del Norte has increased their overall tobacco control grade to an “A” with comprehensive tobacco control policies. In the bay area, the Towns of Tiburon and Ross prohibited the sale of all tobacco products with no exemptions. In the central coast of California, the County of Santa Cruz and the Cities of Santa Cruz and Capitola are the first communities to prohibit the sale of filtered cigarettes. Lastly in Southern California, the City of Anaheim and National City have increased their tobacco retail licensing grade from an “F” to an “A” by adopting a comprehensive policy.
Amid a year that has been filled with many challenging moments for public health, victories to create a healthier California continue to take place.
View the nationwide American Lung Association "State of Tobacco Control" 2026 report at www.Lung.org/sotc
View the California State SOTC Press Release
Download the full California Local Grades signature report here: State of Tobacco Control 2026 - California Local Grades
- Executive Summary
- 2026 CA Local Grades Highlights
- Local Grading Methodology
- Raise Your Grade
- Grades by County
For media inquiries, contact:
Bo Smith, 310-359-6386, [email protected]
Page last updated: January 27, 2026
