Tobacco Sales Restrictions & Retailer Permit Requirement

**UPDATE - DECEMBER 2020**

Illegal to Sell Flavored Tobacco and Nicotine in Pleasanton Starting 1/1/2021.

The City of Pleasanton adopted in September 2020 a ban on the sale of flavored tobacco and nicotine products that will go into effect starting January 1, 2021. At that time, you cannot sell in Pleasanton any tobacco or nicotine flavored product that has: "tastes or aromas relating to menthol, mint, wintergreen, fruit, chocolate, vanilla, hoeny, candy, cocoa, dessert, alcoholic beverage, herb or spice."

While in 2020 the California legislature adopted a statewide ban on flavored tobacco, with some exemptions, in Senate Bill 793, that state law specifically allows more restrictive local regulations (like Pleasanton's) to control.

Opponents of SB 793 have submitted petitions to referend SB 793 (which would require SB 793 to be presented to California voters for approval in November 2021). Nevertheless, any referendum on SB 793 does not change the City of Pleasanton's prohibition on the sale of flavored tobacco and nicotine products, which still goes into effect January 1, 2021. 

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On August 18, 2020, the Pleasanton City Council voted to establish a Tobacco Retailer Permitting program, joining over 150 California cities and counties with similar programs, as well as restrict the sale of certain types of tobacco and nicotine products.

The Pleasanton Tobacco Retailer Permit program and tobacco sales restrictions have the following requirements:

• Any retailer who sells tobacco products needs to acquire an annual Tobacco Retailer Permit from the City of Pleasanton.
• Flavored tobacco products are banned. These products can include, but are not limited to, flavored: cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, little cigars, chewing tobacco, pipe tobacco, snuff, hookah, e-cigarette cartridges, e-juice, JUUL pods, and other flavored components for vaporizers.
• Electronic smoking devices and related paraphernalia are banned. These products can include, but are not limited to: e-cigarettes, electronic pipes, e-cigars, tank devices, hookah pens, vapes, mods, batter chargers, tips and mouthpieces.
• Cigarettes, little cigars and cigarillos must be sold in packs of 20, at a minimum price of $8, plus sales tax.
• Cigars must be sold in packs of 5, at a minimum price of $8, plus sales tax. However, single cigars sold at a minimum price of $7 each, plus sales tax, are permitted.
• No coupons or discounts can be provided which allow for the sale of these products for less than full retail price.

The City sent letters to all state-licensed tobacco retailers in Pleasanton, as well as other business which might consider selling tobacco or nicotine products on a retail basis, notifying them of these changes.

Permit Application

The tobacco retailer permit application is available for download here. The tobacco retailer permit will be issued by the City’s Business License Division and deadlines for the application and payment of a tobacco retailer permit will coincide with a Pleasanton Business License. You may visit the Business License Division webpage at https://www.cityofpleasantonca.gov/business/license.asp.

Ordinances

Read the Tobacco Retailer Permitting Ordinance 2209 and the Tobacco Restrictions Ordinance 2208.

Resources

• Guidelines for Tobacco Retailers
• Tobacco Retailer Permit FAQs

Notices

Contact Information