Ceres, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Tobacco Retail License (2026)
Key Facts
- E-cig retail sales
- Banned citywide
- Ordinance
- Ord. No. 2025-1091 (9-8-2025)
- Wholesale-to-retailer sales
- Still permitted
- School/park buffer (tobacco stores)
- 1,000 feet
- First-offense fine
- $500.00
Summary
Ceres outlaws the retail sale of electronic smoking devices and vape paraphernalia anywhere in the city, not just near schools: a total citywide sales ban under Municipal Code Chapter 6.10.
It shall be unlawful for any tobacco retailer, tobacco store or their agents or employees to sell or offer for sale, give or furnish at no cost or nominal cost, or to possess with intent to sell or offer for sale, any electronic smoking device and related paraphernalia, which includes, but is not limited to; cartridges, cartomizers, e-liquid (i.e. any liquid or substance that can be used by an electronic smoking device), smoke juice, tips, atomizers, electronic smoking device batteries and chargers, and any other item specifically designed for the preparation, charging, or use of electronic smoking devices. This prohibition is applicable citywide.B.There shall be a rebuttable presumption that a tobacco retailer or tobacco store in possession of four or more electronic smoking devices or related paraphernalia possesses such electronic smoking devices and related paraphernalia with intent to sell or offer for sale. (Ord. No. 2025-1091, § 1, 9-8-2025)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 4).
Full Breakdown
Ceres Municipal Code § 6.10.050 makes it unlawful for any tobacco retailer, tobacco store, or their agents to sell, give away, or possess with intent to sell any electronic smoking device or related paraphernalia, cartridges, e-liquid, atomizers, batteries, chargers, anywhere in the city. Possessing four or more triggers a rebuttable presumption of intent to sell. Wholesalers and distributors may still sell to other wholesalers, distributors, and retailers under § 6.10.060, but retail sale to consumers is flatly barred. Any surviving tobacco retailer permit under § 6.10.080 still requires a specialty tobacco store or smoke shop to sit outside 1,000 feet of any school, public park, or recreation center, and outside 1,000 feet of another specialty tobacco retailer.
Violations & Fines
Selling or offering e-cig devices/paraphernalia is a chapter violation: $500 fine for a first offense at a location within 5 years, 30-day permit suspension or $1,000 fine for a second, and permit revocation for a third; sales without a permit are a public nuisance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a vape shop legally sell e-cigarettes in Ceres?
Does the ban only apply near schools or parks?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ceres
California rules heatmap·Compare Ceres to another location·View the California business licensing & operations overview
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