GeorgiaCan You Vape in Georgia? The Short Answer
Yes, but not indoors in most places. Georgia added vaping to its indoor smoking ban in 2023:
- Statewide indoor vaping ban - Added to the Smokefree Air Act in July 2023
- No flavor ban - All flavored vapes are legal
- No product directory - No state approval list (though one is pending in the legislature)
- Face-to-face sales only - Online sales to consumers are effectively illegal
- Low taxes - $0.05/mL on closed systems, 7% wholesale on open systems
- 21+ with no military exception - No age discount for active duty
- ATL airport is vape-free indoors - The world's busiest airport has zero tolerance
Georgia keeps its taxes low and its flavor options wide open, but the indoor ban and face-to-face sales requirement are strict. For a comparison with other states, see our states banning vapes guide.
Georgia's Vaping Laws: The Legal Framework
Georgia regulates vaping through a combination of criminal code, tax law, and public health statutes. The rules tightened a lot between 2020 and 2023.
Key Legislation
| Law | Year | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Smokefree Air Act of 2005 | 2005 (amended 2023) | Indoor smoking ban, extended to vaping July 2023 |
| SB 375 | 2020 | Raised age to 21, created licensing system, imposed excise taxes |
| O.C.G.A. Section 48-11-4.1 | 2020 | Requires face-to-face sales only |
| Excise tax effective | Jan 2021 | $0.05/mL closed, 7% wholesale open |
| Smokefree Air Act amendment | July 2023 | Vaping added to indoor ban |
Regulatory Bodies
- Georgia Department of Revenue - Licensing, tax collection, compliance inspections
- Georgia Department of Public Health - Smokefree Air Act enforcement
- Local health departments - Local ordinance enforcement
- Local law enforcement - Underage sales stings, illegal product operations
What Can You Buy in Georgia?
Georgia has no flavor restrictions and no product directory, so the market is wide open on product selection. The low taxes help keep prices down too.
Available Products
Devices:
- Disposable vapes (all brands, all flavors)
- Pod systems (SMOK, Vaporesso, Uwell, GeekVape, etc.)
- Box mod kits (all brands)
- Rebuildable atomizers (RDAs, RTAs)
- All-in-one refillable systems
E-Liquids:
- All flavors (fruit, dessert, candy, menthol, tobacco, beverage)
- Freebase nicotine (all strengths)
- Nicotine salt (all strengths)
- All bottle sizes and PG/VG ratios
What You Can't Do
- Buy online - Face-to-face sales required by law. Selling vapes remotely is a misdemeanor.
- Buy under 21 - No exceptions, not even for military
- Buy from vending machines - Restricted to adult-only locations
Expected Prices
| Product | Price Range |
|---|---|
| Disposable vape | $10-$18 |
| Refillable pod system | $25-$42 |
| Box mod kit | $38-$75 |
| 30mL e-liquid | $14-$20 |
| 100mL e-liquid | $18-$28 |
| Nicotine salt 30mL | $14-$22 |
| Replacement coils (5-pack) | $12-$18 |
Georgia's prices are among the lower end nationally, thanks to the $0.05/mL and 7% wholesale tax rates. Comparable to Florida and Texas.
Where Can You Vape in Georgia?
Georgia has a statewide indoor vaping ban since July 1, 2023, when the Smokefree Air Act was amended to include e-cigarettes. Vaping is now banned everywhere smoking is banned.
Where Vaping Is Prohibited
- All enclosed public places
- Workplaces
- Restaurants (with limited exceptions)
- State and local government buildings
- Common areas of apartment complexes and condos
- School safety zones (specific criminal penalty)
Where Vaping Is Permitted
- Bars and restaurants that don't admit or employ anyone under 18
- Retail tobacco/vape stores (as long as vapor doesn't enter prohibited areas)
- Private residences (unless used as licensed care facilities)
- Up to 20% of hotel/motel rooms (designated smoking rooms)
- Private rooms in restaurants with independent air systems exhausting outside
- Outdoors (generally permitted)
- Private vehicles
- Long-term care facilities (designated areas only)
Atlanta's Rules (Stricter Than State Law)
Atlanta's smoke-free ordinance took effect January 2, 2020, and bans vaping in all indoor public places including bars and restaurants (the state law has some bar exemptions, Atlanta doesn't):
- No vaping within 10 feet of any entrance, exit, window, or air intake
- Exemptions available for tobacco stores, cigar bars, hookah lounges, and private clubs
- Fines: $100 first violation, $200 for repeat offenses within a year
Savannah
Savannah's smoke-free ordinance (since 2010) covers all indoor places including bars and restaurants. Outdoor vaping on the historic squares and River Street is generally fine.
| City | Indoor Ban | Bars Included | Outdoor Restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | Yes | Yes (all bars) | 10 feet from entrances |
| Savannah | Yes | Yes (all bars) | None specified |
| Augusta | State law applies | Only 18+ bars exempt | None |
| Rest of GA | State law applies | Only 18+ bars exempt | None |
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
This matters because ATL is the busiest airport in the world. If you're connecting through Georgia, you need to know:
- Completely smoke-free and vape-free indoors since January 2, 2020
- 5 designated outdoor smoking areas (4 domestic side, 1 international)
- Each area is 25 feet from terminal entrances
- Connecting passengers can't vape without leaving the secure area
- You'll have to re-clear security if you go outside
- Fines up to $200 for violations
If you're on a tight connection, don't risk it. Consider nicotine pouches or gum instead.
Taxes and Costs
Georgia's vape taxes are among the lowest in the nation.
Tax Breakdown
| Tax | Rate |
|---|---|
| Closed-system excise (disposables, prefilled pods) | $0.05/mL |
| Open-system excise (refillable e-liquids) | 7% of wholesale cost |
| State sales tax | 4% |
| Local sales tax | 2%-4% additional (varies by county) |
| Total | $0.05/mL or 7% wholesale + ~6%-8% sales tax |
Georgia's $0.05/mL closed-system rate ties with Delaware, Kansas, Nebraska, North Carolina, and Wisconsin for the lowest per-mL rate in the country. The 7% wholesale rate on open systems is the lowest wholesale vaping tax nationally.
Proposed Tax Increase
HB 84 (2025 session) would raise the tax to 15% of wholesale for all products, eliminating the closed/open distinction. It hasn't been enacted as of February 2026.
Licensing Fees
| License Type | Initial | Annual Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Retail dealer (tobacco + vapor) | $20 | $20 |
| Adding vapor to existing tobacco license | $10 | Included |
Georgia's licensing fees are among the cheapest in the nation too.
The Face-to-Face Sales Requirement
This is Georgia's most restrictive provision. Under O.C.G.A. Section 48-11-4.1, selling vapor products by any means other than an in-person, face-to-face sale is illegal.
What This Means
- No online ordering for delivery to your door
- No mail-order vape purchases
- Sellers must verify your ID is real and you're 21+ at the point of sale
- Violations are a misdemeanor (up to $1,000 fine and/or 12 months jail)
- Violators also face license suspension or revocation
Limited delivery sales are technically possible under O.C.G.A. Section 48-11-4.2, but the requirements are strict: the delivery person must be 21+, the recipient must be present and show ID, and the licensed dealer must appear as merchant of record at both purchase and delivery.
Penalties for Violating Georgia's Vaping Laws
Underage Sales
| Offense | Fine |
|---|---|
| First offense | Up to $300 |
| Second offense (within 12 months) | Up to $600 |
| Third+ offense | Up to $1,000 + potential license suspension/revocation |
Underage Purchase/Possession
- First offense: Up to $100 fine, mandatory community service, or tobacco education program
Other Violations
| Violation | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Vaping in a school safety zone (21+) | Misdemeanor, $25 fine (first offense) |
| Selling by non-face-to-face means | Misdemeanor, up to $1,000 + 12 months jail |
| Distributing free samples near schools | Misdemeanor |
Enforcement Reality
Enforcement is picking up across Georgia. Some notable recent operations:
- Perry, GA (June 2024): Police and DOR agents checked 9 businesses. 6 out of 9 sold vapes to an underage person without checking ID.
- Chattooga County (2024-2025): Undercover operation led to 5 arrests for illegal vape sales to minors
- Central Georgia (2024): A 7-month investigation targeted stores selling vaping products with illegal THC levels
- Gray, GA ("Operation Seize the Day"): Crackdown on stores selling illegal vaping products
The Georgia DOR's Alcohol and Tobacco Division runs random unannounced inspections, and federal block grant requirements force the state to conduct underage compliance checks. Enforcement is uneven across the state, but it's trending more aggressive, especially outside Atlanta.
Pending Legislation: The Directory Bill
HB 577 (Georgia Nicotine Vapor Products Directory Act) passed the House in March 2025 with a 159-12 vote and is under Senate review. If enacted, it would:
- Create a state directory of approved vapor products
- Require FDA PMTA authorization or a pending application for listing
- Charge $1,000 per product to list, $250 annual renewal per SKU
- Ban sale of any unlisted products
- Only take effect if the legislature appropriates funding for implementation
This bill has been kicking around since 2023 (originally as HB 1260) and hasn't cleared the Senate yet. Vape shop owners oppose it, arguing it could ban open-system devices and harm small businesses. CASAA has called it a "Big Tobacco Protection Act." Keep an eye on it, but nothing has changed on the ground yet.
Georgia vs. Other Southeast States
| State | Flavor Ban | Directory | Indoor Ban | Vape Tax | Age | Online Sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | No | No (pending) | Yes (statewide) | $0.05/mL, 7% | 21 | Face-to-face only |
| Florida | No | Yes (NDD) | Yes (statewide) | None | 21 | Permitted |
| North Carolina | No | Yes (active) | No statewide | $0.05/mL | 21 | Restricted |
| South Carolina | No | No | No statewide | None | 21 | Permitted |
| Alabama | No | Yes | No statewide | $0.08/mL | 21 | Restricted |
| Tennessee | No | No | No statewide | None | 21 | Permitted |
Georgia's combination of a statewide indoor ban plus face-to-face-only sales makes it stricter than most Southeast neighbors on use restrictions, even though its taxes and product availability are among the most permissive.
Nicotine Alternatives
When you can't vape (indoors at Georgia restaurants, workplaces, the ATL airport, or any enclosed public space), these work:
- Nicotine pouches (ZYN, Rogue, On!) - Available everywhere, perfect for the airport
- Nicotine gum - Pharmacies and convenience stores
- Nicotine lozenges - Discreet for any setting
- Nicotine patches - Long-lasting, no visible use
Georgia Vaping Laws: Key Takeaways
- Statewide indoor vaping ban - Georgia added vaping to the Smokefree Air Act in July 2023
- No flavor ban - All flavored vaping products remain legal statewide
- Face-to-face sales required - Online vape sales to consumers are effectively illegal (misdemeanor)
- Low taxes - $0.05/mL on closed systems and 7% wholesale on open systems, among the lowest nationally
- 21+ with no military exception - Active duty under 21 cannot purchase in Georgia
- ATL airport is vape-free - No indoor vaping at the world's busiest airport, period
- Atlanta is stricter - Bans vaping in all bars and restaurants (state law exempts some 18+ bars)
- No product directory yet - HB 577 passed the House but hasn't cleared the Senate
- Enforcement is increasing - Multiple undercover operations across the state in 2024-2025
- Bar exemption exists - Bars and restaurants that don't admit or employ anyone under 18 can allow vaping under state law
References
- Georgia Department of Revenue - Tobacco/Vapor Products FAQ
- Georgia Smokefree Air Act - O.C.G.A. Title 31, Chapter 12A
- Georgia Department of Revenue - Tobacco Excise Taxes
If you're flying through Hartsfield-Jackson, check our guide on traveling with your vape for airport rules and packing tips.
Looking for vaping laws in other states or countries? Check our complete vaping laws guide for more destinations.