Cherokee County, GA Business Licensing & Operations: Tobacco Retail License (2026)

Article VI of Chapter 38, adopted by Ord. No. 2023-O-007, regulates tobacco, electronic cigarette, and other smoking-supplies retailers and vapor product sales. m. Section 38-206 bars anyone under 21 from buying, possessing, or being furnished vapor products, bars retail employees from selling to or allowing loitering by underage buyers, requires clerks to check a government-issued photo ID showing date of birth, such as a driver's license, passport, military ID, or state ID card, and bars a minor from misrepresenting their age to obtain product. Section 38-204 makes retail premises subject to inspection at any time by law enforcement, a county license inspector, or a person designated by the county marshal, including after-hours inspection if staff or owners are present.

Section 38-207 gives the Cherokee County Marshal's Office authority to place a licensed retailer on probation for up to two months for conduct warranting corrective action, with written notice, a right to respond or request an administrative meeting within ten business days, and a further right to appeal to the Board of Commissioners within ten business days after that meeting; any Article VI violation can lead the Board to suspend, revoke, or place the retailer's occupation tax permit on probation. Section 38-208 requires a posted sign stating that sale to persons under 21 is prohibited by law. Zoning for these retailers is governed separately under Chapter 7 of the 1992 Zoning Ordinance, per § 38-203.