Santa Barbara County, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Tobacco Retail License (2026)

Sec. 37A-3 makes it unlawful to act as a tobacco retailer, defined in Sec. 37A-2(p) to include anyone selling or exchanging tobacco, tobacco products, or tobacco paraphernalia, without first obtaining and maintaining a valid license for each retail location. Sec. 37A-4 requires the application to go to the licensing agent, the county Treasurer-Tax Collector under Sec. 37A-2(j), with applicant and location details; the public health department must recommend approval or denial within 21 business days of receipt. Sec. 37A-5 then gives the licensing agent 30 days from receipt to issue the license unless the application is incomplete, seeks a location under an active suspension or revocation, or would violate the 1,000-foot school buffer in Sec.

37A-10 or county zoning under Chapter 35. Sec. 37A-6 requires the license be prominently displayed at the licensed location, and Sec. 37A-8 makes licenses nontransferable: a new owner or a relocated business must apply for a fresh license. Sec. 37A-9 confines retailing to a fixed location, expressly banning foot, vehicle, mobile-kiosk, and delivery sales to consumers. Sec. 37A-7 sets fees by a separately adopted fee schedule, with a 30-day grace period on renewal before a 50 percent late penalty applies, and automatic revocation if the fee and penalty go unpaid 90 days past expiration. The Sheriff's office, per Sec. 37A-14, checks each retailer's compliance one to three times every 12 months.