Fall River, MA Business Licensing & Operations: Tobacco Retail License (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit issuer
- City Board of Health
- Covers
- Tobacco and nicotine delivery products, e-cigarettes
- Renewal
- Annually, every January 1
- Transferability
- Nontransferable permit
- First violation fine
- $100
Summary
Fall River requires a City Board of Health permit to sell tobacco or nicotine delivery products, including e-cigarettes, from any retail location. Permits are nontransferable, renew every January 1, and depend on first holding a valid state tobacco sales license.
No person shall sell tobacco products or nicotine delivery products over the counter or by vending machine within the City without a permit for site and sale of tobacco products and nicotine delivery products issued by the City Board of Health for each tobacco retail place of business. The fee for this permit shall be as provided in Chapter A110, Fee Schedule, of the City Code, and is due upon commencement of operation. The permit is renewable annually each January 1.
B. A permit for site and sale of tobacco products and nicotine delivery products is nontransferable; however, a new permit will be issued when a retail store changes location and has shown compliance pertaining to the provisions of this article. A new owner of an establishment that sells tobacco must apply for a new permit for site and sale of tobacco products and nicotine delivery products. No new permit will be issued unless and until all outstanding penalties incurred by the previous permittee are satisfied in full.
C. Each applicant selling tobacco products is required to provide proof of a current tobacco sales license issued by the State Department of Revenue before a tobacco sales permit can be issued.
D. Each permit for site and sale of tobacco products and nicotine delivery products shall be displayed at the retail establishment in a conspicuous place.
E.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4739915; v14 updated 2025-12-23; through 12-23-2025).
Full Breakdown
Fall River Code § 34-314 requires a City Board of Health permit before any person may sell tobacco products or nicotine delivery products, a term Article VI's definitions section (§ 34-311) expressly extends to e-cigarettes, e-cigars and e-pipes, over the counter or by vending machine in this Massachusetts city. A separate permit is required for each retail location, the permit is nontransferable, and it must be renewed every January 1. Applicants must first hold a current state tobacco sales license from the Department of Revenue, and violations can trigger fines and permit suspension under § 34-312.
Violations & Fines
First offense: $100 fine. Second offense within 24 months: $200 fine plus up to 7 days' permit suspension. Third or later offense within 2 years: $300 fine plus up to 30 days' suspension.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Fall River require a license to sell vapes?
Can a Fall River vape retail permit transfer with a change of ownership?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fall River
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