TALC developed this Model Ordinance to help California cities and counties that want to require local tobacco retailer licensing. Licenses are one way to ensure compliance with local business standards, to reduce youth access to tobacco, and to limit the negative public health effects associated with tobacco use.
The Model Ordinance contains all the essential elements for a local tobacco retailer license, including descriptions of who must obtain a license, requirements and prohibitions for licensees, enforcement provisions, and penalties.

In addition to the core Model Ordinance TALC has drafted supplementary “Plug-in” provisions that can be added to the Model Ordinance. Each Plug-in provides a different policy option. For example, some Plug-ins impose limitations on which business can be licensed, while others create additional requirements and prohibitions for licensed retailers; there are also additional enforcement options. For more information about each of the Plug-ins, the issues they address, and how they work, see our Plug-in Fact Sheet.

The model language for each of our current Plug-ins can be found below.  Please consult with TALC or your local government attorney if you want help adapting one of the following provisions to your local ordinance.

You can also download the Checklist for Designing a Tobacco Licensing Ordinance, which highlights key policy options available in the ordinance, and the related Licensing Ordinance FAQs.