Palmdale, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Tobacco Retail License (2026)

Section 5.04.480 defines a 'tobacco/smoking product retailer' as anyone who sells, offers for sale, exchanges, or gives away free samples of tobacco, smoking products, or tobacco/smoking paraphernalia in public view, regardless of quantity. Applicants must show a valid State Board of Equalization tobacco retailer permit, disclose any Section violations within the prior five years, sign an affirmation that the proprietor knows the applicable tobacco laws and that no drug paraphernalia will be sold, and pay a fee sized to recover the City's full permit administration and enforcement costs. A valid City business license is a prerequisite. The Director must issue the permit unless it is sought for a prohibited activity such as mobile retailing, for a location subject to a State or Federal suspension proceeding within the prior 60 days, or another Section 5.04.200 denial ground; a denial can be appealed under Section 5.04.280.

Retailers must card any purchaser who appears under 27 and may not let anyone under 18 sell tobacco products. Self-service, unassisted displays and vending machines are prohibited outright, and enforcement includes unscheduled inspections and 'youth decoy' compliance checks supervised by City officials or the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Violations are declared public nuisances and unfair business practices, with each day of a continuing violation treated as a separate offense. Retailing without a valid permit makes the seller ineligible for a new permit for 120 days after a first violation within 18 months, six months after a second, and one year after a third, and unpermitted product is subject to seizure and forfeiture.