The Department of Public Health provides resources for tobacco retailers to help them:
- Learn about illegal sales to minors.
- Accurately check IDs.
- Post mandatory signs.
- Learn about transitioning away from selling tobacco.
For more information, see how to get a tobacco retailer permit.
Learn more about Philadelphia’s clean indoor air laws and regulations.
Note: Due to ongoing litigation, we are not currently enforcing Section 9-639 of the Philadelphia Code, which relates to the sale of flavored cigars and certain other flavored tobacco products.
Regulations and exception forms for tobacco retailers
| Title | Description | Category | Author | Date | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regulation relating to health informational messages for hookah and e-hookah PDF | Philadelphia Board of Health resolution relating to health informational messages in establishments where hookah or e-hookah use is permitted. | May 3, 2022 | |||
| 2016 tobacco retailing regulations PDF | Regulations for tobacco retailers, as adopted by the Department of Public Health in 2016. | October 4, 2018 | |||
| 2016 tobacco retailing regulations: Public hearing report PDF | A report from a 2016 public hearing held by the Department of Public Health, in regard to regulations for tobacco retailers. | October 4, 2018 | |||
| Specialty tobacco establishment exception renewal form PDF | A form for reapplying for an exception to the Philadelphia Clean Indoor Air Worker Protection Law. To claim this exception, 15% of your annual gross sales must be from tobacco, tobacco-related products, and accessories. | March 27, 2024 | |||
| Specialty electronic cigarette establishment exception form PDF | A form for claiming a Specialty E-Cigarette Establishment exception to the Philadelphia Clean Indoor Air Worker Protection Law. To claim this exception, 50 percent of your gross annual revenue must come from from the sale of e-cigarettes, related products, or their component parts, including e-cigarette atomizers, vaporizers, batteries, replacement cartridges, and any solution manufactured for use with those devices. | March 27, 2024 | |||
| Tobacco products distribution business exception form PDF | A form for claiming an exception to the Philadelphia Clean Indoor Air Worker Protection Law as a Specialty Tobacco Establishment. A Specialty Tobacco Establishment is a food or beverage establishment whose on-site sales or rentals of tobacco, tobacco-related products, and accessories for consumption or use on the premises comprise 90% or more of gross sales on an annual basis, not including vending sales. | March 27, 2024 |
Tobacco retailer permit education materials
| Title | Description | Category | Author | Date | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tobacco retailer permit education module (English) PDF | Required tobacco retailer permit education module in English. | May 31, 2023 | |||
| Tobacco retailer permit education module (Spanish) PDF | Required tobacco retailer permit education module in Spanish. | April 10, 2023 | |||
| Tobacco retailer permit education module (Simplified Chinese) PDF | Required tobacco retailer permit education module in Simplified Chinese. | April 10, 2023 | |||
| Tobacco retailer permit education module (Vietnamese) PDF | Required tobacco retailer permit education module in Vietnamese. | April 10, 2023 | |||
| Tobacco retailer permit education module (Korean) PDF | Required tobacco retailer permit education module in Korean. | April 10, 2023 |
Hookah and e-hookah materials
| Title | Description | Category | Author | Date | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Letter to business owners about signage requirements for hookah and e-hookah PDF | This letter describes signage requirements for establishments that have an exception to the Clean Indoor Air Worker Protection Law to use of hookah or e-hookah on their premises. | May 3, 2022 | |||
| Signage for businesses that permit smoking or vaping PDF | This sign is required where smoking or vaping is permitted to alert customers that the establishment is only open to individuals age 18 and above. | May 3, 2022 | |||
| Hookah evidence-based health informational messages PDF | Signs required to be posted if hookah use is permitted on premises. Please refer to the Notice Letter and the Regulation relating to health informational messages for hookah and e-hookah for instructions on placement. | May 3, 2022 | |||
| E-hookah sign PDF | Sign required to be posted if e-hookah use is permitted on premises. Please refer to the Notice Letter and the Regulation relating to health informational messages for hookah and e-hookah for instructions on placement. | May 3, 2022 | |||
| Sample menus for businesses that permit the use of hookah and e-hookah PDF | These two sample menus provide the required language to alert customers that there is no safe level or type of hookah smoke. | May 3, 2022 |
Preventing tobacco and e-cigarette sales to minors
| Title | Description | Category | Author | Date | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sign for prohibiting tobacco sales to minors PDF | A sign for retailers to post that prohibits and discourages the sale of tobacco products to minors. | April 13, 2022 | |||
| How to check an ID (English) PDF | Tips for tobacco retailers about checking IDs and preventing tobacco sales to minors. | October 4, 2018 | |||
| How to check an ID (Spanish) PDF | Tips for tobacco retailers about checking IDs and preventing tobacco sales to minors. | October 4, 2018 | |||
| How to check an ID (Simplified Chinese) PDF | Tips for tobacco retailers about checking IDs and preventing tobacco sales to minors. | October 4, 2018 |
Selling e-cigarettes and other electronic smoking devices
| Title | Description | Category | Author | Date | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-cigarette fact sheet for retailers PDF | A description of e-cigarettes, including their components, safety, and regulation. | October 4, 2018 | |||
| E-cigarette law fact sheet: Prohibiting e-cigarette sales to minors PDF | Information about Philadelphia Code 9-633, which prohibits the sale of e-cigarettes and related accessories to minors. | October 4, 2018 | |||
| Philadelphia's e-cigarette laws: What businesses need to know PDF | Information for businesses about Philadelphia's e-cigarette laws, which control where e-cigarettes and their accessories can be used and who can buy them. | October 4, 2018 |
Selling loosies (cigarettes sold one at a time)
| Title | Description | Category | Author | Date | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loosie sign for retailers (English) PDF | October 4, 2018 | ||||
| Loosie sign for retailers (Spanish) PDF | October 4, 2018 | ||||
| Loosie fact sheet for retailers (English) PDF | October 4, 2018 | ||||
| Loosie fact sheet for retailers (Simplified Chinese) PDF | October 4, 2018 | ||||
| Loosie fact sheet for retailers (Spanish) PDF | October 4, 2018 | ||||
| Loosie fact sheet for retailers (Traditional Chinese) PDF | October 4, 2018 |
Preventing smoking or e-cigarette use indoors
| Title | Description | Category | Author | Date | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-cigarette law fact sheet: Prohibiting indoor e-cigarette use PDF | Information about Philadelphia Code 10-614, which prohibits the use of electronic smoking devices indoors. This fact sheet also describes the businesses that are exempt from the law. | October 4, 2018 | |||
| No smoking sign (includes e-cigarettes) PDF | A sign for businesses to post to prohibit smoking in an area. | October 4, 2018 | |||
| Philadelphia's e-cigarette laws: What businesses need to know PDF | Information for businesses about Philadelphia's e-cigarette laws, which control where e-cigarettes and their accessories can be used and who can buy them. | October 4, 2018 |
Philadelphia's sign control law
| Title | Description | Category | Author | Date | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia's window sign law: What businesses need to know PDF | Information for businesses about Philadelphia's window sign law, which limits the amount of window or transparent door space that can be covered with signs. | October 3, 2018 | |||
| Sign control fact sheets for retailers (English) PDF | Information about sign control in Philadelphia and how to comply with the window sign law. | October 3, 2018 | |||
| Sign control fact sheets for retailers (Korean) PDF | Information about sign control in Philadelphia and how to comply with the window sign law. | October 3, 2018 | |||
| Sign control fact sheets for retailers (Simplified Chinese) PDF | Information about sign control in Philadelphia and how to comply with the window sign law. | October 3, 2018 | |||
| Sign control fact sheets for retailers (Spanish) PDF | Information about sign control in Philadelphia and how to comply with the window sign law. | October 3, 2018 | |||
| Sign control fact sheets for retailers (Traditional Chinese) PDF | Information about sign control in Philadelphia and how to comply with the window sign law. | October 3, 2018 |
Transitioning Away from Tobacco
| Title | Description | Category | Author | Date | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transitioning Away from Tobacco: Tips for Philly retailers (English) PDF | Tips and guidance for retailers who want to stop selling tobacco. | October 3, 2018 | |||
| Transitioning Away from Tobacco: Tips for Philly retailers (Spanish) PDF | Tips and guidance for retailers who want to stop selling tobacco. | October 3, 2018 |