Paterson, NJ Business Licensing & Operations: Tobacco Retail License (2026)

All tobacco stores and smoke shops shall obtain a license prior to engaging in retail distribution of tobacco products, smoking products, or smoking paraphernalia. Upon the issuance of a license, such use may thereafter be continued for a period not to exceed one year, at which time the smoke shop or tobacco store shall renew its license.

B. All smoke shops and tobacco stores currently in operation at the time this article takes effect shall be required to submit an application for the appropriate smoke shop or tobacco store license within 60 days of the effective date of this article, and to obtain such license within 180 days of the effective date of this article.

C. Consistent with the said requirement to apply for a license within 60 days of the effective date of this article, and to obtain such license within 180 days of the effective date of this article, no further such applications from any applicants anywhere within the City of Paterson shall be accepted after those 60 days have elapsed, at any future date, thus barring applications for any added licenses in future months and years after those 60 days have elapsed, with only renewals to be permitted thereafter, not new licenses.

D. Every smoke shop shall offer for sale at least one form of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) product.