Wausau, WI Business Licensing & Operations: Tobacco Retail License (2026)
Key Facts
- License issuer
- Wausau City Clerk
- Underage sale limit
- Under 18 prohibited
- Vape/e-cig sales
- Covered by same underage ban
- Vending machine buffer
- 500 feet from a school
- First-offense forfeiture
- Up to $50
- Repeat-offense forfeiture
- $200 to $500
- License suspension
- 3 to 30 days by court
Summary
Wausau requires a City Clerk retailer license under Wausau Municipal Code § 5.30.020 before selling cigarettes or tobacco products, bars selling tobacco or e-cigarette and vapor devices to anyone under 18 (§ 5.30.040(c)), and keeps vending machines at least 500 feet from any school (§ 5.30.040(h)).
No retailer shall in any manner, or upon any pretense, or by any device, directly or indirectly sell, expose for sale, possess with intent to sell, exchange, barter, dispose of or give away any cigarettes or tobacco products to any person not holding a license as herein provided or a permit under Wis. Stats. §§ 139.30 to 139.44 or 139.79, without first obtaining a license from the City Clerk. ... (c)No licensed retailer, or the agent or employee thereof, may sell or give cigarettes or tobacco products or any electronic delivery device as defined in section 2.90.010(c) to any person under the age of 18, except as provided by section 9.04.022(c) of this Code. ... (h)No person may place a vending machine within 500 feet of a school. ... (b)A person who commits a violation is subject to a forfeiture of:(1)Not more than $50.00 if the person has not committed a previous violation within 12 months of the violation; or(2)Not less than $200.00 nor more than $500.00 if the person has committed a previous violation within 12 months of the violation.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 12 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
040(a)). 040(d)). 040(c) bars selling or giving cigarettes, tobacco products, or any "electronic delivery device," the chapter's term for e-cigarettes, vape pens and similar vapor products, to a person under 18, so a Wausau tobacco retailer's single license and underage-sale ban both cover vapor products even though "tobacco products" itself is separately defined. 040(f)-(h)). 040(i)).
Violations & Fines
A first violation of the licensing or underage-sale rules carries a forfeiture of up to $50; a second violation within 12 months carries $200 to $500 (§ 5.30.050(b)). Beyond the fine, a court must suspend the retailer's license or state permit: three days after one prior violation, three to ten days after two, and 15 to 30 days after three or more within 12 months, with notice mailed to the Wisconsin Department of Revenue and the City Clerk (§ 5.30.050(c)-(d)).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Wausau require a license to sell vape products?
How far must a tobacco vending machine be from a Wausau school?
What's the penalty for selling tobacco to a minor in Wausau?
How long must a Wausau tobacco retailer keep sales records?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Wausau
Compare Wausau to another location·View the Wisconsin business licensing & operations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Tobacco Retail License in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Marathon County handle tobacco retail license.