Retail Tobacco and Paraphernalia Sales License Information
How do I get a
Retail Tobacco Product Sales License?
All
tobacco and paraphernalia retailers are required to apply for and retain a valid Retail
Tobacco Product Sales License every year. License applications are sent to retailers to complete and return to
Columbus Public Health.
- Download the Tobacco 21 License Application here.
- Download the Temporary Retail Tobacco Product Sales License Application here.
A license will be required for each location and the license is
non-transferable. Tobacco and paraphernalia retailers must
submit a current and valid Vendor’s License to Columbus Public Health before applications will be
processed for licensing. Retailers that distribute, store, or sell cigarettes are required to submit a current and valid Retail Cigarette Dealer's License to the department prior to approval for licensing.
How much will a
Retail Tobacco Product Sales License cost?
The
annual license fee for each license will be $350 and the license will be valid
from October 1 to September 30 of the following
year. A penalty fee equal to 25% of the
applicable license fee will be assessed by the Board of Health for license fee
payments that are not received or postmarked by October 1.
Do I need to get a
license if I am selling tobacco products or product paraphernalia at an event?
Yes,
you will need to get a Temporary Retail Tobacco Product Sales
License for the event. An application,
which is available on our website, will need to be submitted to Columbus Public
Health at least 10 days prior to the event and the license is valid for no
longer than 30 consecutive days. This temporary license is
limited for use at a single event. The
license fee is $50. Anyone who fails to
apply for the license prior to the beginning of the event will be subject to
denial of the application for the license.
Can I be denied a Retail
Tobacco Product Sales License? Can a Retail Tobacco Product Sales License be suspended or revoked?
Licenses
can be denied, suspended or revoked for giving or selling cigarettes, tobacco
products or product paraphernalia to anyone under the age of 21. Also, licenses can be denied, suspended or
revoked if no proof of age is obtained by tobacco and paraphernalia retailers for customers that
are under age 30. In addition, licenses
may be denied, suspended or revoked for reasons such as failure to post
Tobacco 21 signs, failing to pay any outstanding fines, having the business
declared a nuisance by the court, submitting a misleading, inaccurate or false
license application, and failing to be in compliance with applicable city,
state and federal codes.