New Virginia Requirement Oct 1, 2026

Products Covered by the Virginia Tobacco Permit

The Retail Tobacco Permit covers most tobacco and nicotine products sold to consumers. Here is what requires a permit in Virginia, and what is exempt.

Covers cigarettes, smokeless & heated tobacco
Covers vapes, e-liquid, liquid nicotine & nicotine vapor
Covers nicotine pouches like ZYN, VELO, Rogue & On!
Cigars & pipe tobacco are exempt from the retail permit

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Requires a Permit

Cigarettes and roll-your-own tobacco
Smokeless tobacco (chew, snuff, dip)
Heated tobacco products
E-cigarettes and disposable vapes
E-liquid, liquid nicotine and nicotine vapor
Nicotine pouches (ZYN, VELO, Rogue, On!)

Exempt From the Retail Permit

Cigars
Pipe tobacco

Remote or online sales of cigars or pipe tobacco to Virginia consumers may still require a separate remote retail seller license.

Vapor and nicotine products must also be certified. Beyond the permit, e-liquid and nicotine vapor products must appear on the Virginia Attorney General's Liquid Nicotine and Vapor Product Certification Directory to be sold legally in Virginia.

Search the certification directory free →

Hemp, CBD, and cannabis products are regulated separately by VDACS and the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority, not under the Retail Tobacco Permit.

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Oct 1, 2026

Permit required to keep selling

$300–$400

State application fee

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Needs its own permit

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Questions

Covered Products FAQ

Which products require the Virginia Retail Tobacco Permit?

The permit covers retail sales of cigarettes, roll-your-own and smokeless tobacco, heated tobacco, e-cigarettes and disposable vapes, e-liquid, liquid nicotine, nicotine vapor, and nicotine pouches such as ZYN, VELO, Rogue, and On! sold to consumers in Virginia.

Are cigars and pipe tobacco covered?

Cigars and pipe tobacco are exempt from the in-store retail tobacco permit. However, remote or online sales of cigars or pipe tobacco to Virginia consumers may require a separate remote retail seller license.

Do nicotine pouches like ZYN require a permit?

Yes. Nicotine pouches such as ZYN, VELO, Rogue, and On! are covered nicotine products, so retailers selling them need a Retail Tobacco Permit beginning October 1, 2026.

Do vapes and e-liquid need anything beyond the permit?

Yes. In addition to the permit, vapor and nicotine products must appear on the Virginia Attorney General's certification directory to be sold legally. You can search that directory free on our site.

What about hemp, CBD, or cannabis products?

Those are not covered by the Retail Tobacco Permit. Hemp, CBD, and cannabis products are regulated separately by VDACS and the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority.