Smoke and vape shops in Knoxville need a city business license, state tobacco license, and must follow zoning rules limiting locations near schools and parks under the city zoning code.
Knoxville treats smoke shops, vape lounges, and hookah retailers as standard retail under the 2020 Recode Knoxville zoning ordinance, generally allowing them in commercial districts. Operators need a state tobacco license and city business license through Chapter 8. Tennessee tobacco-21 rules under TCA 39-17-1504 apply to vapor and hemp-derived products as of 2021. Hemp products are allowed under the 2014 Tennessee Hemp Act and 2018 Farm Bill, but THCA flower and Delta-8 face emerging state restrictions through Department of Agriculture rules.
Selling restricted vapor products to minors or operating without a license can trigger seizure, license loss, and city code citations.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Knoxville, TN
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Knoxville, TN
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Knoxville, TN
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Knoxville, TN
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Knoxville, TN
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Knoxville, TN
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See how Knoxville's smoke shop rules rules stack up against other locations.
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