Charleston requires a city business license under Chapter 8 to sell tobacco, vapor, and nicotine products, with sales restricted to customers age 21 or older under SC §16-17-501.
Tobacco retailers operating in Charleston must obtain an annual city business license under Chapter 8 with a tobacco classification, plus a state retail tobacco license. Per SC §16-17-501, all tobacco, e-cigarette, and vapor product sales are restricted to customers 21 or older, requiring photo ID verification for buyers appearing under 27. Retailers must post age-restriction signage at the point of sale. Health-department inspections may occur. Sales near schools may face additional zoning review under the Charleston Zoning Ordinance Chapter 54.
Selling tobacco to minors carries fines up to $500 and license suspension. Operating without a business license adds civil penalties under Chapter 8.
Charleston, SC
South Carolina raised the legal age for tobacco and vape sales to 21 under SC §16-17-501. Charleston retailers must verify ID under age 30; sales to under-21...
Charleston, SC
Vape and e-cigarette retailers in Charleston operate under standard SCDOR tobacco licensing with the SC §16-17-501 age-21 floor. Charleston imposes no buffer...
See how Charleston's tobacco retail license rules stack up against other locations.
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