Tobacco, cigar, and e-cigarette retailers in Dallas County must hold a Texas Comptroller permit under Tax Code Chapters 154 and 155 and Health & Safety Code Chapter 161. Dallas County does not issue tobacco licenses, but Sheriff and DCHHS conduct underage compliance checks alongside cities.
Texas Tax Code Chapters 154 (cigarettes) and 155 (cigars and other tobacco) and Health & Safety Code Chapter 161 require all Dallas County retailers selling cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, e-cigarettes, or alternative nicotine products to obtain a permit from the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Combined retailer permits run roughly $180 every two years and must be displayed at each location. Permittees keep four years of invoices, refuse self-service except in adult-only stores, post Tobacco 21 signage, and refuse buyers under 21. Dallas County has no separate tobacco license; Comptroller and DSHS lead enforcement, with Dallas County Sheriff and DCHHS conducting undercover compliance checks in unincorporated areas. Cities add their own enforcement layers.
Retailing tobacco or vape products without a Comptroller permit, hiding the permit, missing Tobacco 21 signage, allowing prohibited self-service, failing to keep four years of invoices, or selling to anyone under 21 triggers Comptroller penalties and Sheriff or city citations.
See how Carrollton's tobacco retail license rules stack up against other locations.
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