Smoke, Tobacco and Vapour Product Shop
The City’s review of the Business Licensing By-law has been completed and Business Licensing By-law 122-2024 is effective November 4, 2024. Details on the review along with the approved program enhancements are available in Report SF-24-06. A Licence is required for all Smoke, Tobacco and Vapour Product Shops as of November 4, 2024.
A Smoke, Tobacco and Vapour Product Shop is any place where smoke, tobacco and vapour products are made for sale, offered for sale, stored or sold.
If you are unsure whether your business requires a Smoke, Tobacco and Vapour Product Shop Licence, please email Licensing Services with a description of your business and the products you sell for further guidance.
Fees for a new Smoke, Tobacco and Vapour Product Shop Licence: $500 ($50 application fee plus $450 new licence fee).
This Licence class may qualify for a Modular Licence.
Application requirements
To apply for a new Smoke, Tobacco and Vapour Product Shop Licence, you must submit the following documents:
- Business Name Registration or Franchise Agreement
- Articles of Incorporation (if applicable)
- Property Ownership or Lease of Premises for your place of business
- Basic Floor Plan of Premises - Site plan sketch/diagram/drawing of the interior of your premises, including all rooms, entrances, exits
- Provincial Tobacco Retail Permit (if applicable)
- Public Health Specialty Vape Store Registration (if applicable)
- Commercial General Liability Insurance with a liability limit of not less than one million dollars ($1,000,000) per occurrence
- You will also be required to provide the City with a Durham Region Health Inspection Report for your business
Apply for a new Smoke, Tobacco and Vapour Product Shop Licence
To renew a licence
Fees to renew your current Smoke, Tobacco and Vapour Product Shop Licence: $300 ($50 application fee plus $250 renewal licence fee).
Application Requirements
To renew your current Smoke, Tobacco and Vapour Product Shop Licence, you must submit the following documents:
- Update Floor Plan of Premises - Site plan sketch/diagram/drawing of the premises (if changes were made in the past year)
- Commercial General Liability Insurance with a liability limit of not less than two million dollars ($2,000,000) per occurrence
- You will also be required to provide the City with a Durham Region Health Inspection Report for your business
Renew your Smoke, Tobacco and Vapour Product Shop Licence
Frequently Asked Questions about Smoke, Tobacco and Vapour Product Shop Licence
| How long does it take to get a Smoke, Tobacco and Vapour Product Shop Licence? |
| A new Smoke, Tobacco and Vapour Product Shop Licence takes about two (2) to four (4) weeks to issue. However, this depends on the inspections and approvals required from various departments. |
| What inspections are required? |
| Approvals from Oshawa Fire Services (O.F.S.), Property Standards, and Durham Region Health (D.R.H.) may be required before your Smoke, Tobacco and Vapour Product Shop Licence can be issued. Once you submit your application, we will contact these departments to inform them that your business requires these inspections.
O.F.S. ensures your business is complies with the Fire Code and our Property Standards Officers check for compliance with the City’s Property Standards By-law. D.R.H. inspects your business to confirm compliance with the Smoke Free Ontario Act. |
| What if my business is being renovated or under construction? |
| If you are doing renovations or construction on your business, you may require a building permit. Visit the Building Services webpage for more information. If you require a business sign installed, please visit the Sign Permits webpage.
If you have an active building permit, your Smoke, Tobacco and Vapour Product Shop Licence cannot be issued until it is closed. |
| Where can I open up my Smoke, Tobacco and Vapour Product Shop business? |
| To check the zoning for your proposed business location, you can contact Planning Services and visit their Zoning webpage. |
| Can I transfer my Food Shop Licence? |
| Business licences issued by the City of Oshawa, including Smoke, Tobacco and Vapour Product Shop Licences, cannot be transferred to a new owner or another location. If you are selling your business, the new owner must apply for a new Smoke, Tobacco and Vapour Product Shop Licence. If you are moving your Smoke, Tobacco and Vapour Product Shop business to a different location, you must apply for a new Smoke, Tobacco and Vapour Product Shop Licence. |