Middletown, OH Business Licensing & Operations: Tobacco Retail License (2026)
Key Facts
- License required since
- January 1, 2024
- Annual license fee
- $250.00
- Mobile retailers
- Prohibited, fixed-location only
- First violation fine
- $500.00 minimum
- Fourth violation (36 mo.)
- License revoked
Summary
Middletown, Ohio requires every tobacco retailer, including sellers of e-cigarettes and other electronic smoking devices, to hold a $250.00 annual license from the Board of Health under City of Middletown Code of Ordinances § 1864.02. Mobile tobacco retailers are banned outright, and civil penalties start at $500.00 for a first violation.
(c) ELECTRONIC SMOKING DEVICE. Any device that can be used to deliver aerosolized or vaporized nicotine to the person inhaling from the device, including, but not limited to, an e-cigarette, e-cigar, e-pipe, vape pen or e-hookah. ... (a) Beginning January 1, 2024: No person shall sell or offer to sell any tobacco product without first having obtained a license to do so from the Board of Health. ... The license fee is two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00). ... (f) Mobile retail establishments prohibited: only fixed-location tobacco retail establishments are eligible to be licensed. ... (1) For a first violation, a fine no less than five hundred dollars ($500.00).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 1864 of the Middletown Code of Ordinances, adopted by Ord. 01(c) broadly enough to reach vapes: any device that can be used to deliver aerosolized or vaporized nicotine to the person inhaling from it, including an e-cigarette, e-cigar, e-pipe, vape pen or e-hookah, plus components, parts and accessories. 00, running January 1 through December 31, with a pro-rated fee available for new applicants who apply more than 60 days before year-end. 02(f) flatly prohibits mobile retail establishments, meaning only fixed-location tobacco and vape retailers are eligible for a license at all.
00 plus a minimum 30-day suspension; and a fourth violation within 36 months results in outright revocation. The Health Commissioner may also deny, suspend or revoke a license for reasons including underage applicants, prior license suspensions within 36 months, or selling to anyone under 21 more than once in 12 months.
Violations & Fines
Section 1864.03(c) sets civil penalties starting at a $500.00 fine for a first violation, rising to $750.00 with a 30-to-60-day suspension for a second violation within 36 months, $1,000.00 with a 30-day suspension for a third, and outright license revocation for a fourth violation within the same 36-month window. Selling tobacco or vape products without a valid license under § 1864.02 makes the retailer ineligible to obtain a new license for at least 30 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Middletown require a license to sell vapes or e-cigarettes?
Can a mobile vape or cigarette vendor operate in Middletown?
What are the penalties for selling tobacco without a license?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Middletown
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