Tobacco Retailers
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.
Healdsburg
Title 8 Health and Safety - Chapter 8.26 Tobacco Retailers
Petaluma
Overview of Petaluma Tobacco Retail License
Regulation of Retail Tobacco Sales Chapter 8.21
Rohnert Park
Title 8 Health and Safety - Prohibition of Head Shops, Hookah Bars, Tobacco Vending Machines and Self-Service Displays
Sebastopol
Title 8, Health & Safety, Chapter 8.08 Sales and Distribution of Tobacco Products to Minors
Windsor
TITLE III CHAPTER 11. - REGULATING THE SALE OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS AND PARAPHERNALIA
California Tobacco Retailing Laws
Tobacco Control Laws that affect California Retail Businesses 2022
Source: California Department of Public Health.
CDTFA Sales of Cigarettes and Tobacco Products in California, License Requirements for Retailers
Source: California Department of Tax and Fee Administration.
California Tobacco Control Branch: California Prohibits Retailers from Selling Flavored Tobacco Products
Source: California Department of Public Health.
Training: Responsible Beverage Service
Source: Sonoma County Department of Health Services.