Tobacco Retailers

Impact Sonoma

Local Tobacco Retail Licensing and Regulations

Tobacco retailers in unincorporated Sonoma County, City of Petaluma and Town of Windsor are required to obtain a Tobacco Retail License to sell tobacco products. Impact Sonoma of the Department of Health Services administers licenses and provides compliance inspections to ensure retailers comply with tobacco control laws and business standards to protect the health, safety, and welfare of our residents.

Prospective tobacco retailer licensees must consult with the Sonoma County Department of Health Services PRIOR TO applying for a state tobacco retailer license, to determine how to comply with local licensing requirements. Most jurisdictions in Sonoma County have Tobacco Retail Licensing ordinances or regulations that restrict the number of tobacco retailer licenses available and have other limitations to license eligibility. See State, County & Local Regulations for information on the jurisdiction in which you plan to open your business.

To confirm license eligibility, please contact Carley Moore, Tobacco Compliance & Enforcement at (707) 565-6680, or impact.sonoma@sonoma-county.org for more information.

Tobacco Retailer License Renewal 2024-2025

The application renewal period for 2024-25 licenses (valid from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025) is now closed.

A Tobacco Retail License is required in Healdsburg, Sebastopol, and the City of Sonoma. Please contact those cities directly with any questions about tobacco retail license renewal. Currently, the cities of Rohnert Park, Cotati and Cloverdale do not require a Tobacco Retail License, but you should contact those City Planning Departments for any specific requirements to sell tobacco products.

If you have any questions regarding this process, please contact Carley Moore, (707) 565-4479 and review Frequently Asked Questions.

Unincorporated Sonoma County

Chapter 32A Licensure of Tobacco Retailers

Healdsburg_95

Healdsburg

Title 8 Health and Safety - Chapter 8.26 Tobacco Retailers

Petaluma city logo

California Tobacco and Smoking Laws

Flavored Tobacco Law
Source: California Department of Public Health.

California Tobacco 21 Law
Source: California Department of Public Health.

Tobacco Laws Affecting California
Source: Public Health Law Center and American Lung Association.

Tobacco Retailer Resources

Source: California Department of Public Health

STAKE (Stop Tobacco Access to Kids Enforcement) Act is an important piece of legislation that specifies who retailers can sell tobacco to. In the state of California, it is illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21 years. Training videos are available for a better understanding of the Act, and how to implement and adhere to the rules in your retail environment.

Training: Responsible Beverage Service
Source: Sonoma County Department of Health Services.