As of Saturday, November 30, retailers selling vapour products will require a City of Ottawa business licence.
To start or continue selling vapour – also known as vape or vaping – products, retailers will need to obtain an applicable licence as set out in Schedule 12 of the City’s Licensing By-law relating to Tobacco and Vapour Product Retailers.
The licensing fee for retailers selling either tobacco or vapour products only is $930 per year. The annual licensing fee for retailers selling both tobacco and vapour products is $1,092.
Currently, vapour product retailers do not require a business licence but are subject to inspections and regulation under the Smoke-Free Ontario Act(link is external), which governs the sale, display and promotion of tobacco and vapour products.
A licence requirement provides additional consumer protections and addresses concerns related to public health and safety. It also provides the City with additional tools and resources to support ongoing enforcement of the Smoke-Free Ontario Act and respond to instances of regulatory non-compliance, particularly in relation to the sale of vapour products to individuals under the age of 19.
Residents can share their concerns about a vapour product retailer by contacting 3-1-1.
For more information, business owners can visit the City’s Business Licensing Centre in-person at 735 Industrial Avenue or learn more on the City’s Business licences page.
For more information on City programs and services, visit ottawa.ca, call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401) or 613-580-2400 to contact the City using Canada Video Relay Service. You can also connect with us through Facebook(link is external), X (formerly Twitter)(link is external) and Instagram(link is external).
