Tobacco dealers

Tobacco dealers need a license. Minneapolis has three types of tobacco dealer licenses.

Definition

We license the retail sale of tobacco, tobacco products or tobacco-related devices. 

Tobacco includes the following:  

  • Cigarettes, cigars and other smoking tobacco 
  • Snuff, chewing tobacco or any other form of tobacco for chewing or smoking

Tobacco-related devices include any tobacco product for chewing, sniffing or smoking tobacco. This includes:

  • Pipes
  • Rolling papers
  • Hookahs
Tobacco pipe

What to know

Before you begin

Use this information only as a general guide.

See how to open a new business

Learn about the types of tobacco dealer licenses in Minneapolis

Application

See tobacco dealer application

Fee 

Find your license fee

Submit your license application 

Submit your application to Business Licenses

Types of tobacco dealer licenses

Minneapolis has three types of tobacco dealer licenses.

Exclusive tobacco dealer

At least 90% of gross revenue must come from the sale of: 

  • Tobacco products
  • Loose tobacco
  • Plants or herbs
  • Cigars
  • Cigarettes
  • Smoking accessories

You may sell all flavors of tobacco products. 

Tobacco dealer

This is a tobacco department or section of an individual business. You may only sell non-flavored tobacco products. 

 

Tobacco dealer/Off-sale liquor store

You may only sell non-flavored or menthol tobacco products. 

Contact us

Business Licenses & Consumer Services

Phone
612-673-2080

Fax
612-673-3399

Address

Public Service Building
505 Fourth Ave. S., Room 220
Minneapolis, MN 55415

Office hours
8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Monday – Thursday

9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Friday

Minneapolis 311

Email Minneapolis 311

Phone

311 or 612-673-3000

Relay service

612-673-3000

Hours

7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Monday – Friday

See list of City holidays