Ohio Department of Taxation licenses tobacco and vapor product retailers under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 5743. Columbus City Code Title 21 supplements with local public-health rules and supports state enforcement of compliance checks and permit conditions.
Ohio requires retailers selling cigarettes, vapor products, or other tobacco products to obtain a retail dealer license from the Ohio Department of Taxation under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 5743. Annual license fees run roughly one hundred twenty-five dollars per location. Columbus City Code Title 21 governs Health and Sanitation rules, with Columbus Public Health partnering on age-of-sale education and environmental tobacco enforcement. Federal Tobacco 21 raised the minimum sales age to 21 in December 2019, mirrored statewide by ORC Section 2927.02. Retailers must verify ID for buyers appearing under 30, post age-required signs, and avoid self-service displays except in adult-only stores. Vape shops also must comply with FDA premarket review and Ohio sales-tax provisions for vapor products under ORC 5743.51.
Selling without a state license is a misdemeanor with fines up to $1,000 per offense; selling to a minor under ORC 2927.02 is a fourth-degree misdemeanor with fines up to $250 escalating with repeat violations and possible license suspension.
Columbus, OH
Federal Tobacco 21 and Ohio Revised Code Section 2927.02 prohibit selling tobacco, vapor products, or alternative nicotine products to anyone under 21. Colum...
Columbus, OH
Columbus City Code Chapter 2125, adopted in 2024, prohibits the sale of flavored tobacco and vapor products including menthol within city limits. Ohio HB 105...
See how Columbus's vape retail rules rules stack up against other locations.
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