Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco licenses all tobacco retailers statewide. Jacksonville requires the standard local business tax receipt but cannot impose additional tobacco-specific licensing because Florida preempts the field.
Florida Statute Chapter 569 governs tobacco product retail dealers, requiring a permit from DBPR's Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco for any business selling cigarettes, cigars, or other tobacco products. Annual permit fees apply, plus separate registration for vapor products under Chapter 569 Part II added in 2014. Florida Statute 877.111 preempts local flavor bans and most other tobacco-specific restrictions, leaving Jacksonville with general business tax receipt authority only. Retailers must verify age 21-plus under Florida law (raised by federal Tobacco 21 in 2019), post required signage, and submit to DBPR compliance inspections. Sales to minors trigger DBPR enforcement up to license revocation, with criminal penalties for repeat clerks.
Selling tobacco without a DBPR permit triggers state misdemeanor charges plus permit denial. Sales to minors bring DBPR fines escalating to license revocation after multiple offenses. Lacking Jacksonville business tax receipt triggers separate city civil penalties.
See how Jacksonville's tobacco retail license rules stack up against other locations.
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