Riverside, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Tobacco Retail License (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required
- Before any tobacco or paraphernalia sale
- Permit term
- Two years, nonrefundable fee
- Sales method
- Vendor-assisted only, except retail tobacco stores
- Age check
- Photo ID if buyer looks under 21
- 3rd violation penalty
- 5-year permit ineligibility at location
- Enforcement
- City Department + Chief of Police
Summary
Any smoke shop, vape store, or other tobacco retailer operating in Riverside must hold a valid Tobacco Retail Establishment Permit from the city before selling any tobacco product or paraphernalia. The two-year permit under RMC § 6.24.030 is nontransferable, tied to one fixed location, and operating without it is declared a public nuisance subject to closure.
It shall be unlawful for any person, business, or tobacco retailer to sell, permit to be sold, offer for sale, or display for sale any tobacco product or tobacco paraphernalia without first obtaining and maintaining a valid tobacco retail establishment permit from the Department. ... It shall be unlawful for any person to act as a tobacco retailer without first obtaining and maintaining a valid tobacco retail establishment permit pursuant to this chapter for each location at which that activity is to occur. Tobacco retailing without a valid tobacco retail establishment permit is a public nuisance.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 33).
Full Breakdown
030(A), (E)). 030(B)-(D)). 040). 050). 070). 090). 100).
Violations & Fines
Selling tobacco without a valid permit is a public nuisance under § 6.24.030(E) and can trigger immediate closure of the facility under § 6.24.110(A). The City Attorney or District Attorney may prosecute the sale as an infraction or misdemeanor, and the Chief of Police may suspend or revoke a permit for code violations, nuisance conduct, or threats to public health and safety, with correctable violations given up to five business days to fix before revocation (§ 6.24.120). A permit denial, suspension, or revocation may be appealed to an Administrative Hearing Officer within ten calendar days under § 1.17.121.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a city permit to open a smoke shop in Riverside?
Can a Riverside smoke shop use open, self-service tobacco displays?
What happens if my Riverside tobacco shop sells without a permit?
Can the city revoke my Riverside tobacco retail permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Riverside
California rules heatmap·Compare Riverside to another location·View the California business licensing & operations overview
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Tobacco Retail License in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Riverside County handle tobacco retail license.