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

Section 58-45 makes it unlawful for any person, firm, corporation, establishment or agency to sell tobacco products in Medford without a valid tobacco sales permit issued by the tobacco control department of the Board of Health. The permit application carries a $150.00 non-refundable, non-transferable fee that must be paid by check or money order to the City of Medford; the Board does not accept cash. Approved permits must be posted in a conspicuous place, are valid for one calendar year, and expire every December 31, requiring annual renewal.

Section 58-45(b) conditions every permit on the seller not selling or giving tobacco products 'in any of its forms' to anyone under 21, and requires the conspicuous signage on illegal sales to minors mandated by M.G.L.A. c. 270, section 7, which the tobacco control office supplies. Section 58-45(c) confines freestanding tobacco displays to areas of the store accessible only to employees, except at a retail tobacco store, which is exempt from that display restriction. Violations escalate under Section 58-45(d): a first violation draws a fine of up to $100.00; a second draws up to $200.00 and a possible seven-day permit suspension; a third draws up to $300.00 and a possible 14-day suspension; and a fourth draws up to $500.00 and a possible 30-to-60-day suspension.

During any suspension, Section 58-45(e) requires all tobacco products to be pulled from the sales area for the duration. Section 58-46 puts enforcement with the police department, the board of health, the tobacco control department, or a mayoral designee, and directs collected fines toward enforcement or tobacco-harm education programs. A seller can appeal an enforcement action to the board of health under Section 58-47 if it would work a manifest injustice.