San Mateo County, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Tobacco Retail License (2026)

(a)No Tobacco Retailer or other Person shall Sell or offer for Sale any Tobacco Product without a current and valid Tobacco Retailer Permit from San Mateo County for each location where such activities are conducted.(b)Permits are valid for one year and must be timely renewed annually by the Permit holder in order to continue to sell or offer for sale any Tobacco Product. A Retailer must obtain a separate Permit for each location at which any Tobacco Product will be sold, offered for sale or distributed. A Permit that is not renewed in a timely manner shall expire at the end of its term, and the Tobacco Retailer must obtain a new Permit prior to any further sale, offer for sale, or distribution of any Tobacco Product.(c)No Tobacco Retailer shall violate, or cause or allow the Tobacco Retailer's agents or employees to violate, any provision of this Chapter or any other local, state, or federal law applicable to Tobacco Products or Tobacco Retailing.(d)Tobacco Retailers are responsible for the actions of their employees and agents relating to the sale, offer to sell, and furnishing of tobacco products at the retail location. The sale of any tobacco product by an employee shall be considered an act of the tobacco retailer and the permit holder shall be responsible for any monetary penalties levied.(e)Nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to penalize the purchase, use, or possession of a Tobacco Product by any Person not engaged in Tobacco Retailing.