Title 4.1. Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Control
Chapter 2. Administration of Licenses
§ 4.1-243. (Effective October 1, 2026) Applications for retail tobacco permits; fees.
A. Prior to selling any retail tobacco product, all persons with such intent shall file with the Board an application for a retail tobacco permit on a form prescribed by the Board and a statement in writing by the applicant swearing and affirming that all of the information contained therein is true. This section shall apply to all persons intending to sell any retail tobacco product, including (i) persons that hold a Retail Sales and Use Tax Exemption Certificate for Stamped Cigarettes Purchased for Resale or an Other Tobacco Products Distributor's License; (ii) retail dealers of liquid nicotine and nicotine vapor products; and (iii) persons that hold any other similar permit issued by the Department of Taxation.
B. The provisions of subsection A shall not apply to the continuance of retail tobacco permits granted under this article; however, such retail tobacco permittees shall file and maintain with the Board a current, accurate record of the information required by the Board pursuant to subsection A and notify the Board of any changes to such information in accordance with Board regulations.
C. The Board shall conduct a background investigation, to include a criminal history records search, which may include a fingerprint-based national criminal history records search, on each applicant for a tobacco retail permit that includes a completed personal data form and a criminal history records search. The Board may waive, for good cause shown, the requirement of a criminal history records search and a completed personal data form for (i) law-enforcement officers and (ii) directors, nonmanaging members, or limited partners of any applicant corporation, limited liability company, or limited partnership.
D. An applicant for a tobacco retail permit shall pay an application fee in the amount of $400, plus any cost charged to the Department of State Police by the Federal Bureau of Investigation or the Central Criminal Records Exchange for the processing of fingerprints for such applicant's criminal history records search required by the Board. However, any applicant who holds a license to sell alcoholic beverages issued by the Authority pursuant to Article 2 of Chapter 2 shall pay an application fee in the amount of $300. The application fee shall be in addition to the state permit fee required pursuant to § 4.1-244 of the Code of Virginia and shall not be refunded. Each applicant shall pay such application fee at the time the application for a tobacco retail permit is filed.