San Antonio tobacco and vape retailers must hold a state retail permit from the Texas Comptroller and follow Texas Health & Safety Code chapter 161, plus San Antonio Municipal Code chapter 17 alignment on minor access, signage, and self-service display restrictions.
Texas Health & Safety Code chapter 161 governs tobacco and e-cigarette sales statewide. Retailers selling cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, or e-cigarettes must obtain a retailer permit from the Texas Comptroller and renew it annually. State law bans self-service displays of cigarettes and e-cigarettes except in adult-only stores, requires conspicuous age-restriction signage at every register, and mandates photo ID checks for buyers appearing under thirty. San Antonio Municipal Code chapter 17 mirrors state structure and authorizes Metro Health, SAPD, and code compliance to inspect retailers, conduct minor-decoy stings, and issue citations. Permit suspension or revocation by the Comptroller follows repeated violations.
Selling tobacco or vape products without a Comptroller permit, allowing self-service access outside adult-only stores, missing age-warning signs, or failing to verify photo identification triggers fines, permit suspension, and possible Class C misdemeanor charges.
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