Stearns County, MN Business Licensing & Operations: Tobacco Retail License (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing ordinance
- Stearns County Ordinance No. 206
- Applies to
- Unincorporated areas and townships only
- License expires
- Every June 30
- Minimum age to hold license
- 18 years
- Late renewal penalty
- 50% of fee, capped at $100
- Max criminal fine
- $700 / 90 days
Summary
Stearns County requires a county license before anyone can retail sell tobacco outside of cities and towns that already license tobacco sales themselves, under Ordinance No. 206, with annual renewal, posted display, and misdemeanor penalties for selling without one.
Section 4. LICENSES. 4.1 License Requirements. A. No person shall retail sell or offer to retail sell any tobacco without first having obtained a license to do so from the County. B. All licenses issued under this Ordinance shall be valid for one calendar year from the date of issue; provided further that all licenses expire on June 30 next following the date of issuance. C. All licenses are effective only for the licensed premises. D. All licenses shall be posted and displayed in plain view of the general public on the licensed premises.
Full Breakdown
Ordinance No. 1 only "within areas of Stearns County located outside of cities and towns which license and regulate retail tobacco sales," so incorporated cities like St. Cloud, Sartell or Sauk Centre that run their own tobacco licensing are outside its reach. 1(A) sets the core rule: no person shall retail sell or offer to sell tobacco without first obtaining a license from the county. 1(D)). Section 5 adds eligibility restrictions beyond state law: no license to anyone under 18, no license to anyone whose license was revoked within the prior 5 years, and no license (or renewal) to anyone convicted within 5 years of a felony tobacco sale offense or willful tobacco-law violation; moveable places of business, such as trucks or vans, cannot be licensed at all.
1(D) imposes a late-renewal penalty of 50% of the annual license fee, capped at $100, on any renewal filed after the license year begins. Section 8 requires licensees to allow the Sheriff and county officers to inspect the premises and examine sale records at reasonable hours to check compliance.
Violations & Fines
Section 10.1 makes selling tobacco without a license, or otherwise violating the ordinance, a misdemeanor punishable by a $700 fine, 90 days imprisonment, or both. Section 10.2 lets the County Administrator seek civil action through the County Attorney to restrain violations, and Section 10.3 allows license suspension or an administrative penalty for reasons including knowingly permitting unrelated illegal acts on the licensed premises, decided by the County Board's Administrative Hearing Officer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a county license to sell vape or tobacco products near St. Cloud?
Can a mobile vendor get a Stearns County tobacco license?
What's the penalty for selling tobacco without a Stearns County license?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Stearns County
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