Tobacco Retailers

Notice of Change

Clatsop County Board of County Commissioners has passed a revised Clatsop County Tobacco Retail License Ordinance No. 2026-06 that will go into effect July 1, 2026. Under this change, Clatsop County tobacco retailers must obtain an Oregon Tobacco Retail License from Oregon Department of Revenue by July 1, 2026. Clatsop County will continue to perform tobacco retailer inspections locally in coordination with the the state Tobacco Retail License Program after this change.

Current Ordinance in effect until June 30, 2026

On January 8, 2020 the Clatsop County Board of County Commissioners passed Tobacco Retail Licensing Ordinance NO. 2019-03. The five cities within the county have adopted the ordinance as their own making the license a requirement for all businesses in both incorporated and unincorporated areas.

This ordinance requires all businesses that sell tobacco and nicotine-containing products, paraphernalia, including e-cigarette products to purchase a license. This does not apply to cannabis and non-nicotine vape juice. The affected businesses include:

Convenience stores
Bars
Hotels/motels
Restaurants
Grocery stores
Campground stores
Event venues

This new license was created to increase retailer knowledge and compliance of laws regulating the sale of tobacco and nicotine products, and specifically to reduce sales to minors under 21.

Tobacco Licensing Resources

Tobacco Retail License Application

Tobacco Retail License Training Manual

How to Read an Oregon ID (English)

How to Read an Oregon ID (Spanish)

FAQs about the Tobacco Retail License

Tobacco Retail License Inspection Checklist

Purchase a license annually from the Clatsop County Public Health Department. The license fee is $350.
Display the license where customers and staff can easily see it.
If your business has multiple locations, you must get a license for each one.
The license may not be transferred to someone else (if you sell to a new owner) nor can it be transferred to a different location.

Apply with your license fee payment of $350 by check. You must submit an application and fee for each business location that you operate. Send or deliver to:

Clatsop County Public Health

820 Exchange St.

Astoria, OR 97103

Credit card payment can be accepted by phone or in person with a 2 ½% fee.

Download your application here. You can return it in person or by mail, along with your payment to our office.

Public Health Department

820 Exchange Street, Suite 100
Astoria, OR 97103
Phone: (503) 325-8500
Email: health [at] clatsopcounty.gov (health[at]clatsopcounty[dot]gov)

Open Monday - Friday, 8:45am-12:00pm & 1:00pm-5:00pm

If you need an interpreter or accommodations to understand the information on this page or access services, contact us and it will be provided at no cost.

Payments can be made by cash or credit card, in person only. There is a 2.5% added fee for credit card payments.

Retailer education will be offered to all retailers as well as be available online. The education materials being developed and will be available by May 1, 2020. Please call to schedule a training if you have not been contacted yet.

Clatsop County Public Health Department will visit your business once a year to ensure that it is following the provisions described in the ordinance. Inspections will be unannounced. You are required to let inspectors conduct their inspection or you may face penalties and could have your license revoked.

Minimum Legal Sales Age Inspections will also be conducted. Review the Inspection form.

If an inspector finds you out of compliance with the county’s tobacco retail ordinance, or any state or federal tobacco retail law, you will be subject to fines, penalties or license suspension. If your business receives a penalty, you are encouraged to request a training refresher for you and your employees.

1st Violation: $500 fine and mandatory training
2nd: Violation within a 24-month period: $2500 and 30 day license suspension
3rd Violation within a 24-month period: $5000 fine and 90 day tobacco license suspension
4th Violation within a 24-month period: $7500 fine and the tobacco license will be revoked.

If you see a tobacco store doing something wrong — like selling tobacco to someone underage, not following safety rules, or breaking state laws — you can report it.

To file a complaint:

Click this link: File a Tobacco Retailer Complaint
Fill out the form with as much detail as you can (name of the store, what it did wrong, when).
Your report helps health officials check on the retailer and make sure laws are followed.