Multnomah County, OR Business Licensing & Operations: Tobacco Retail License (2026)
Key Facts
- License required
- every address selling tobacco/vape products
- Issuing agency
- Multnomah County Health Department
- Flavored vape/tobacco sales
- banned, no exceptions
- Max penalty
- $1,000 per violation per day
- License term
- annual, nontransferable between owners or locations
Summary
Multnomah County requires every retailer that sells vape products, e-cigarettes, or nicotine e-liquid to hold an annual Tobacco Retail License from the Health Department, and separately bans the retail sale of all flavored tobacco and vape products.
A Tobacco Retail license is required for each address at which Tobacco Products are available from a Tobacco Retailer.
(B) Application for a Tobacco Retail license issued under this subchapter shall be made on forms provided by the Department.
(C) A Tobacco Retail license fee shall be submitted with the license application.
(D) To obtain a Tobacco Retail license, each applicant must meet all requirements of this subchapter, the rules adopted pursuant to this subchapter, and federal, state, and local laws relating to the retail sale of tobacco products.
(D) Each Tobacco Retail license shall expire one calendar year from the date of issuance.
(E) The Tobacco Retail license shall be displayed in a prominent and conspicuous place at the location licensed. (Ord. 1225, Added, 11/12/2015)
Full Breakdown
Multnomah County Code § 21.560 defines Tobacco Retailer to include 'inhalant delivery systems retailers': the code's term for vape shops, tobacco shops, convenience stores, and any business selling e-cigarettes or nicotine e-liquid. Section 21.561(A) requires a Tobacco Retail License, issued by the county Health Department, for every address where these products are sold; a license is nontransferable and expires one year from issuance under § 21.562(A). Section 21.563(B) separately bans retailers from making any Flavored Tobacco Product available, a category that reaches flavored vape juice under the chapter's Tobacco Products definition. Violators face civil penalties up to $1,000 per day under § 21.568(B).
Violations & Fines
Operating without a Tobacco Retail License, transferring a license, or selling any Flavored Tobacco Product draws a Notice of Violation and up to a $1,000-per-day civil penalty; repeated violations can suspend or revoke the license.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do vape shops in Multnomah County need a license?
Can a vape shop sell flavored e-liquid in Multnomah County?
Does this license apply to vape shops in Portland?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Multnomah County
Compare Multnomah County to another location·View the Oregon business licensing & operations overview
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