California Business and Professions Code section 22972 requires all tobacco retailers to obtain a state license from the CDTFA. Riverside County may also require a separate retail business permit for unincorporated-area locations.
Under the Cigarette and Tobacco Products Licensing Act, every retailer selling cigarettes, vape products, or other tobacco in California must hold a current license issued by the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration. Riverside County does not impose a separate county-wide tobacco retailer license beyond the state requirement, though business tax certificates apply to commercial activity in unincorporated areas. The state minimum sales age is 21, and flavored tobacco product sales are restricted statewide under SB 793 for in-person retailers. Inspections by ABC and CDTFA enforce compliance.
Selling tobacco without a state license is a misdemeanor with $500 to $5,000 fines per offense, license suspension, and product seizure by CDTFA or ABC enforcement.
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See how Riverside County's tobacco retail license rules stack up against other locations.
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