Smyrna, GA Business Licensing & Operations: Tobacco Retail License (2026)

The zoning rule sits in Sec. 712, the GC general commercial district, which opens with the statement that within any GC commercial district the listed uses shall be permitted. Item 712.45 adds vape shops with two spacing conditions. First, no vape shop may be located within 1,000 feet of another vape shop. Second, no vape shop may be located within 1,000 feet of any elementary or secondary school, kindergarten or other school or day care facility that is required to be licensed or certified by the state. Both tests are distance tests, so a site has to clear every existing vape shop and every qualifying school or day care.

The sales rules are in Chapter 66, Sec. 66-17, titled Sale of tobacco products to persons under the age of 21. Its definition of electronic smoking device covers an e-cigarette, e-cigar, e-pipe, vape pen or e-hookah, with any component, part, accessory or substance intended to be vaporized, whether or not it contains nicotine. Distribution of any tobacco product to a person under 21 is prohibited (66-17(b)). Before selling, the retailer or its agent or employee must verify that the purchaser is at least 21 by examining government-issued photographic identification (66-17(c)), and reasonably relying on that ID is an affirmative defense.

Self-service displays, a category that includes vending machines, cannot be used to sell tobacco products except in places where persons under 21 are not permitted access at any time (66-17(d)). Each retailer must post a notice where tobacco products are sold, conspicuous to employees and consumers, unobstructed, and within six feet of each register. The city provides the notice, which must be at least 14 inches by 11 inches, printed in high contrast red with capitalized letters at least one inch high (66-17(e)).

Underage buyers face their own rule: a person under 21 cannot purchase, attempt to purchase or knowingly possess a tobacco product, and community service not exceeding 20 hours applies (66-17(g)). Persons under 21 are excused when they buy under direct supervision of state or city staff for training, education, research or enforcement.

The staged code file does not print a separate tobacco or vape retail license fee in these sections, so the licensing side that appears in the ordinance text is the zoning permission in Sec. 712.45 plus the Sec. 66-17 sales conditions.