Memphis tobacco retailers must hold a Tennessee Department of Revenue tobacco license and remit Shelby County tobacco tax. The city issues a standard business license under Chapter 9 — no separate flavor or vape ordinance applies because state law preempts local tobacco regulation.
Tennessee Code Title 67 Chapter 4 Part 10 governs tobacco taxation and licensing statewide; Memphis has no authority to impose flavor bans, density caps, or buffer zones on tobacco shops beyond zoning rules in the Memphis-Shelby Unified Development Code. Retailers selling cigarettes, cigars, or vapor products need a state distributor or wholesaler license plus a Memphis general business license under Memphis Code Chapter 9. Age 21 federal Tobacco 21 applies; Tennessee adopted T21 in 2020. Shelby County Health enforces clean-indoor-air rules.
Selling tobacco without state license risks $500 daily fines, license revocation, and criminal misdemeanor charges under TCA 67-4-1015.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Memphis, TN
The City of Memphis does not regulate yard ornaments on private property. Statuary, religious displays, and decorative landscape elements are generally allow...
Memphis, TN
Memphis has no ordinance setting size, height, or hours limits for inflatable holiday displays on private residential property. Wind and severe weather (thun...
Memphis, TN
Memphis does not impose specific install-by or take-down-by dates for holiday lights on private property. Holiday-light regulation in Memphis is overwhelming...
Memphis, TN
Built-in outdoor kitchens in Memphis require permits from Construction Code Enforcement for gas-line installation, electrical work, plumbing, and any structu...
Memphis, TN
Memphis - the global capital of dry-rub barbecue - has no smoker-specific ordinance for single-family use, and the cultural and culinary tradition of backyar...
Memphis, TN
Memphis adopts the International Fire Code through Chapter 9 (Fire Prevention) with local amendments, including IFC Section 308 prohibiting open-flame cookin...
See how Memphis's tobacco retail license rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.