Framingham, MA Business Licensing & Operations: Tobacco Retail License (2026)

Framingham's Board of Health regulates tobacco and vape retail through Chapter 507, Article II. Section 507-15A requires anyone selling tobacco products, a term that under § 507-12 expressly includes electronic cigarettes, electronic cigars, electronic hookah and e-liquids, to hold an annual tobacco product sales permit, and only owners of a permanent, non-mobile Framingham location can apply. Applicants must sign a statement confirming they read the regulation, per § 507-15B, and provide proof of a current Massachusetts Department of Revenue tobacco retailer license before the city permit issues, per § 507-15C.

Selling smoke accessories such as vaporizers, vape pens and pipes instead requires a separate smoke accessory sales permit under § 507-17A, capped citywide at three permits. Both permits are nontransferable and conditioned on consenting to unannounced periodic inspections. Section 507-15I caps the market: no more than 26 tobacco product sales permits for stores that are not adult-only retail tobacco stores, and no more than four for adult-only stores, with new applicants placed on a first-come, first-served waiting list once the cap is reached. The same subsection bars issuing a new permit to any retail location within 500 feet of a public or private elementary or secondary school, or within 500 feet of another retailer that already holds a valid tobacco product sales permit, measured property line to property line. A permit will not be renewed if the holder has unpaid fines or three sales-to-minors violations within 12 months.