Shawnee County, KS Business Licensing & Operations: Tobacco Retail License (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Shawnee County Code § 7-28
- License fee
- $500.00 initial and $500.00 annual renewal
- Review period
- County clerk decides within 30 days
- Fine tiers
- $500 / $750 / $1,000 (§7-29)
- Fee destination
- 3rd Judicial District drug court (§7-30)
Summary
Retailers of tobacco paraphernalia and novelty items in unincorporated Shawnee County need a county license. Sec. 7-28 requires a $500.00 application fee, a sworn statement that the applicant is 21 or older with no felony or moral-turpitude conviction in the past five years, and annual renewal, also for $500.00, through the county clerk's office.
(a)License required. No person shall sell or otherwise dispense tobacco paraphernalia and novelty items via retail without first applying for and securing a license for each premises such person desires to operate within the unincorporated area of the county.(b)Initial application for license. Any person desiring to license a premises for the sale of tobacco paraphernalia and novelty items shall first make application at the office of the county clerk and submit an application fee of $500.00. Each such license shall be effective for one calendar year from the date of issuance.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 1).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 7, Article II licenses retail sale of tobacco pipes, rolling papers, cigarette rollers and blunt wraps. Sec. 7-27 defines 'tobacco paraphernalia and novelty items' to cover smoking pipes of metal, wood, acrylic, glass, stone, plastic or ceramic, rolling papers, rollers, and flavored or unflavored wraps. Sec. 7-28 requires an application at the county clerk's office listing the applicant's name, address and years of county residency, the property owner's name if different from the applicant, the premises location, and a sworn statement of age and clean criminal record covering felonies, moral turpitude, and alcohol or controlled substance offenses, including DUI.
The county clerk must grant or deny the application within 30 days and, if denied, refund the fee and explain the denial in writing within 15 days. 00 fee, and licenses are non-transferable and must be displayed at the licensed premises. Sec. 7-28(g) allows revocation for false or misleading application information, unpaid fees, or a conviction for selling or distributing illegal drugs on the premises, but only after the county gives the holder written notice of a right to a hearing before the board of county commissioners. Sec. 7-28(h) separately bars selling to an unaccompanied minor.
Violations & Fines
Sec. 7-29(a) fines a first violation $500.00, a second violation $750.00, and a third or subsequent violation $1,000.00, and subsection (b) lets the county additionally pursue a civil declaratory judgment or injunction. Sec. 7-30 sends all collected license fees to the third judicial district for drug treatment and drug-court operations, while fines stay with the county to cover enforcement costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a license to sell vape or tobacco paraphernalia in unincorporated Shawnee County?
How much does the Shawnee County tobacco paraphernalia license cost?
Can Shawnee County revoke a tobacco paraphernalia retail license?
What's the penalty for selling tobacco paraphernalia without a license?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Shawnee County
Compare Shawnee County to another location·View the Kansas business licensing & operations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.