Can You Vape in Canada? 2026 Laws, Provincial Rules & Travel Guide

Can You Vape in Canada? The Short Answer

Yes, but rules vary significantly by province:

• Legal age: 18 (Alberta, Quebec) or 19 (most provinces)
• 20mg/mL nicotine limit (federal)
• Flavors: Banned in Quebec and Nova Scotia, restricted elsewhere
• Indoor vaping: Banned in all provinces
• Sales: From convenience stores to specialty shops, varies by province
• Outdoor rules: Vary widely

Canada has comprehensive federal regulations plus a patchwork of provincial rules. Where you are matters as much as the federal law.

Canada Vaping Laws: Federal Framework

Tobacco and Vaping Products Act (TVPA)

The TVPA and Vaping Products Promotion Regulations set baseline rules:

Regulation	Requirement
Minimum age (federal)	18
Nicotine concentration	Maximum 20mg/mL
Health warnings	Required on packaging
Advertising	Restricted (lifestyle advertising banned)
Promotional items	Prohibited
Sponsorships	Prohibited

Product Standards

Federal regulations require:

• Child-resistant packaging
• Health warning labels
• Ingredient disclosure
• No health claims without approval
• Registration with Health Canada

What Federal Law Allows

• All flavors (federal level - provinces may restrict)
• Online sales with age verification
• Sales in retail stores (province-dependent)
• Personal importation for personal use
• Nicotine up to 20mg/mL

Provincial Vaping Laws

Each province has additional regulations. Here's how they differ:

Ontario

Aspect	Rule
Age	19
Flavors	Allowed
Sales	Convenience stores, gas stations, specialty shops
Indoor ban	Yes - All enclosed public places and workplaces
Vehicle ban	With passengers under 16
Advertising	Restricted at point of sale

Key points:

• Relatively accessible
• No provincial flavor ban
• Smoke-Free Ontario Act covers vaping

Quebec

Aspect	Rule
Age	18
Flavors	BANNED (tobacco only since 2023)
Sales	Specialty tobacco retailers only (age-verified)
Indoor ban	Yes - Including outdoor patios of bars/restaurants
Vehicle ban	With passengers under 16
Display	Products must be hidden

Key points:

• Strictest province for vaping
• Complete flavor ban
• Products cannot be visible in stores
• Specialty retailer only

British Columbia

Aspect	Rule
Age	19
Flavors	Allowed
Sales	Adult-only stores, some retailers
Indoor ban	Yes - All enclosed public spaces
Outdoor ban	6 meters from doors/windows/air intakes
Vehicle ban	With passengers under 16

Key points:

• Moderate restrictions
• Health authorities can add local rules
• Focus on keeping out of sight of minors

Alberta

Aspect	Rule
Age	18
Flavors	Allowed
Sales	Various retailers, vape shops
Indoor ban	Yes
Vehicle ban	With passengers under 18

Key points:

• Lower age (18)
• Relatively accessible
• Similar to tobacco regulations

Nova Scotia

Aspect	Rule
Age	19
Flavors	BANNED (tobacco/mint/menthol only)
Sales	Restricted
Indoor ban	Yes
Display	Hidden from view

Key points:

• Flavor ban like Quebec
• Strict retail restrictions
• Products must be concealed

Manitoba

Aspect	Rule
Age	18
Flavors	Allowed
Sales	Various retailers
Indoor ban	Yes

Saskatchewan

Aspect	Rule
Age	18
Flavors	Allowed
Sales	Various retailers
Indoor ban	Yes

Other Provinces and Territories

Province/Territory	Age	Flavors	Notes
New Brunswick	19	Allowed	Standard restrictions
PEI	19	Restricted	Some limits
Newfoundland	19	Allowed	Standard restrictions
Yukon	19	Allowed	Limited retail
NWT	19	Allowed	Limited retail
Nunavut	19	Allowed	Very limited retail

Where Can You Vape in Canada?

Universally Prohibited

All provinces ban vaping in:

• Indoor public places
• Workplaces
• Restaurants and bars (indoor)
• Public transit
• Hospitals and healthcare facilities
• Schools and universities
• Government buildings

Province-Specific Outdoor Rules

Province	Outdoor Restrictions
Ontario	Near entrances, playgrounds, sports fields
Quebec	Restaurant/bar patios, within 9m of doors
BC	6m from doors, windows, air intakes
Alberta	Varies by municipality
Manitoba	8m from building entrances
Saskatchewan	Varies by municipality

Vehicle Restrictions

Most provinces ban vaping in vehicles with minors:

• Under 16: Ontario, Quebec, BC, Manitoba
• Under 18: Alberta
• Varies: Other provinces

Where You CAN Usually Vape

• Private residences (own property)
• Outdoors (away from restricted areas)
• Private vehicles (without minors)
• Some outdoor patios (province-dependent)
• Designated areas (rare)

What Can You Buy in Canada?

Available Products

Devices:

• Pod systems (JUUL, Vuse, Stlth)
• Disposable vapes (varies by province)
• Open systems (mods, tanks)
• Starter kits

E-Liquids:

• Maximum 20mg/mL nicotine
• All flavors (except QC, NS)
• Various bottle sizes
• Nicotine salts and freebase

Major Brands

• Vuse (BAT) - Widely available
• JUUL - Common in most provinces
• Stlth - Canadian brand, popular
• Elf Bar - Disposables (where legal)
• SMOK, Voopoo - Open systems at vape shops

Pricing (Approximate)

Product	Price (CAD)
Disposable vape	$15-30
Pod system	$30-50
Pod refills (2-pack)	$15-25
E-liquid 30mL	$20-30
Box mod	$50-100

Prices higher in remote areas and territories.

For Tourists and Travelers

Bringing Vapes to Canada

From the US:

• Personal quantities allowed
• Stay within 20mg/mL to avoid issues
• Keep original packaging
• Declare if asked

From other countries:

• Similar rules
• Reasonable personal quantity
• May need to declare

At the border:

• Usually no issues for personal use
• Large quantities may be questioned
• Keep receipts

Buying in Canada

As a tourist:

• Legal to buy if you meet age requirements
• ID required (passport works)
• Availability depends on province
• Quebec most restrictive

Airport Rules

Major Canadian airports:

• No vaping inside terminals
• Some have outdoor designated areas
• Check specific airport for smoking/vaping areas

Notable airports:

• Toronto Pearson (YYZ): Outdoor areas outside terminals
• Vancouver (YVR): Designated outdoor areas
• Montreal (YUL): Outdoor only
• Calgary (YYC): Designated areas

Cross-Provincial Travel

• Rules change at provincial borders
• What's legal in Alberta may not be in Quebec
• If driving across provinces, know the rules
• Flavored products purchased in Ontario can't be sold in Quebec

Canada vs. USA Comparison

Aspect	Canada	USA
Federal age	18	21
Nicotine limit	20mg/mL	None (federal)
Flavor ban	Provincial (QC, NS)	Federal (except tobacco/menthol for pods)
Marketing	Strictly limited	Restricted but varies
Online sales	Legal with age verification	Legal in some states
Indoor bans	All provinces	Most states

Penalties and Enforcement

Retailer Penalties

Violation	Penalty
Selling to minors	$10,000-$500,000
Illegal advertising	$100,000-$500,000
Violating display rules	Province-specific

Consumer Penalties

Violation	Penalty
Vaping in prohibited area	$100-$1,000 (varies by province)
Minor in possession	Varies by province
Vehicle with minor	$100-$500

Canada Vaping Laws: Key Takeaways

1. Legal age varies: 18 (AB, QC, MB, SK) or 19 (ON, BC, NS, NB, others)
2. 20mg/mL nicotine limit federally enforced
3. Quebec bans all flavors except tobacco
4. Nova Scotia bans most flavors too
5. Indoor vaping banned in all provinces
6. Vehicle bans with minors in most provinces
7. Sales vary from convenience stores to specialty shops
8. Cross-border travel - rules change by province
9. Tourists can buy with valid ID in most provinces
10. Check local rules - Provincial differences are significant

References

• Vaping Product Safety and Regulation – Health Canada
• Tobacco and Vaping Products Act – Justice Laws
• Vaping Products Labelling and Packaging Regulations
• Provincial Vaping Regulations Summary – Canadian Cancer Society

Looking for vaping laws in other countries? Check our complete vaping laws guide for more destinations.