Tobacco

New Ordinance Requirements

Pursuant to ordinances passed by the City Council in 2016, please be advised of the following changes to laws regarding the sale of tobacco in the City of Chicago.

1) The following changes are currently in effect. Citations for violations of the following will be issued:

Beginning July 1, 2016, the sale of tobacco products and accessories to people under age 21 will be prohibited. Scroll to the bottom of this page for a link to download the new warning sign which reflects the new age of 21. This new sign must be posted in stores that have a Retail Tobacco license.

Beginning February 4, 2017, retail employees under age 21 are prohibited from engaging in the sale, dispensing, service or delivery of tobacco products.
Beginning February 4, 2017, retail tobacco licensees and their employees or agents who sell tobacco must present valid government-issued ID when an authorized City investigator has requested identification.

2) All tobacco products must be sold in their original factory-wrapped packaging, except for cigars and pipe tobacco. Fines for violations of this section shall increase to $1,000 - $5,000 for a first offense, and $2,500 - $10,000 for second and subsequent offenses.

Beginning October 10, 2016, all coupons and other discounts on tobacco products will be banned. Violation of the ban on coupon and other discounts has been added to the list of tobacco violations which will subject the licensee to a revocation or a non-renewal of a license upon the 3rd violation in a 24-month period.

3) If a person commits 2 or more violations of the prohibition on the sale of single cigarettes (MCC 4-64-350) within any 48-month period, the licensee shall be subject to revocation and/or nonrenewal of the license.

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BACP licenses the sale of tobacco products in Chicago. The rules for tobacco dealing in Chicago are below and on attached pages for your convenience.

Tobacco Sellers Rules and Regulations
In 2013, the Tobacco Sellers Rules and Regulations were instituted. If found liable of possession of unstamped or improperly stamped cigarette packages, seizure and storage fees are assessed. Please read these rules or look at the ordinance, as they may affect your business.

Clean Indoor Air Ordinance (No Smoking, Including E-Cigarettes)
Effective 4/29/14:
E-cigarettes may not be used anywhere City law already prohibits smoking, which includes within 15 feet of building entryways. Businesses must post no smoking signs. A sign can be downloaded and printed for free. Please visit the Chicago Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) website for additional information.

4-64-355 Prohibition on sale of certain products:


(a) Bidi Cigarettes	(b) Cigarette wrapping paper or wrapping leaf that is, or is held out to be, impregnated or scented with, or aged or dipped in, alcoholic liquor, chocolate, any fruit flavoring, vanilla or honey, in any combination	(c) Flavored liquid nicotine products

Violations of this section may result in fines ranging from $1,000 - $5,000 per offense.

4-64-515 Prohibited locations – Retail tobacco dealers:
(a) No licensee engaged in the business of retail tobacco dealer shall sell, give away, barter, exchange or otherwise deal in tobacco products, tobacco product samples or tobacco accessories at any location that has a property line within 100 feet of the property line of any building or other location used primarily as a school, child care facility, or for the education or recreation of children under 18 years of age.

(b) No licensee engaged in the business of retail tobacco dealer shall sell, give away, barter, exchange, or otherwise deal in flavored tobacco products, flavored tobacco product samples, or accessories for such products at any location that has a property line within 500 feet of the property line of any public, private, or parochial secondary school located in the City of Chicago. This subsection (b) shall not apply to retail tobacco stores. For purposes of this subsection, “retail tobacco store” has the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 7-32-010. Please read the Rules and Regulations, as they may affect your business.

(c) The Commissioner of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection shall not issue any new tobacco license to engage in the business of retail tobacco dealer at any location that has a property line within 500 feet of the property line of any public, private, or parochial secondary school located in the City of Chicago. This subsection (c) shall not apply to: (1) renewals of licenses existing as of December 31, 2016, or (2) applications for a new tobacco license to engage in the business of retail tobacco dealer pursuant to a purchase of a retail tobacco business at a location that holds such a license on or after December 31, 2016.

(d) The Commissioner of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection and the Commissioner of Health are hereby authorized to promulgate rules necessary or appropriate to enforce this section.

E-Cigarettes:
The sale of e-cigarettes requires a Retail Tobacco license. The sale, sampling, bartering, or exchange of e-cigarettes to minors is illegal. Samplers of e-cigarettes, vape pens, e-hookah, and e-juice must obtain a Tobacco Product Sampler license and provide notice to BACP of the location(s) at which they propose to conduct sampling not less than 30 days prior to the actual sampling date. The sale of e-cigarettes is not permitted within 100 feet of a school and/or day care facility. The sale of e-cigarettes in vending machines is illegal. All tobacco products must be stored in a manner that is not physically accessible in any way to a member of the general public, and the sale of tobacco products must involve a direct person-to-person transfer between store agent and customer.

Cigarette Stamps:
In the City of Chicago, the City of Chicago and Cook County cigarette tax remittance is evidenced by affixing the City of Chicago tax stamp.

In 2012, BACP began to enforce and write violations for both the Cook County and City of Chicago codes relating to unstamped cigarette sales. The current fine range for unstamped cigarettes begins at $2000.00 and increases to $50 per pack for any violation exceeding 40 packs. As mentioned, the City of Chicago tax stamp (pictured) is inclusive of the Cook County tax stamp.

Tobacco Sales to Minor Program (TS2M)
It is illegal to furnish tobacco products to persons under 21 years of age. BACP tests the sales practices of retailers to determine compliance with Chicago’s underage provisions. The sale of tobacco products to a minor is prohibited, and the required warning sign must be conspicuously posted. BACP investigators, with the assistance of a youth participant, will test a business to determine if a sale is made to the minor. The youth participant will provide his or her actual age to the store clerk. If a sale is made and/or the required warning sign is not posted, enforcement action will be taken.

Additional Requirements:

Service Facts

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