Verify A Cigar Vendor's Tobacco License, State By State

Tobacco, like alcohol, is a regulated product, and any retailer of tobacco products like cigars must hold the license or permits its state and locality require where the company is domiciled and retails.

Imagine buying a bottle of wine from a liquor store that has no license, because buying cigars from a seller without a license is the same thing, and that license is what separates the legitimate companies from the rest. Anyone operating without it is doing so unlawfully, so end users, consumers and event planners should ask any company bringing cigars to an event to show the license, the same way they would ask a bartender or caterer about an alcohol license. As a consumer, you are entitled to see it. Get a quote for your event

If a company cannot show the license, stop communication and get away from that vendor, because an end user who works with an unlicensed seller could be a target for a state audit for non-sales tax compliance. A regulated product also cannot pass through the hands of someone unlawfully, whether for profit or no profit, which protects minors and addresses other compliance issues.

Some states issue retail tobacco licenses at the state level, some leave it to cities and counties. End users, consumers, and event planners should exercise due diligence and verify the vendor's compliance for the state where it is based.

Official Tobacco License Pages For All 50 States And The District Of Columbia

Cigar Catering events take place in major cities across the country, including events that involve travel, so the list below covers every state. Each entry links to an official government website and is labeled by what that state offers: a searchable lookup or published list of licensed retailers, an agency page with licensing information, or local or limited licensing where the state itself keeps no retailer list. Links were gathered in October 2026. Agencies move and rename their pages, so if a link no longer works, search the agency name on the state's official website. This list is general information and not legal advice. Get a quote for your event

Alabama – Local or limited licensing
No state retail tobacco license; retailers hold local business licenses. State tax guidance: Alabama Department of Revenue, tobacco tax

Alaska – Agency page
Business license search with a Tobacco Endorsement: Alaska business license endorsement search

Arizona – Local or limited licensing
No state retailer tobacco license is listed by the state; sales-tax licensing applies. State guidance: Arizona Department of Revenue, tobacco tax FAQs

Arkansas – Lookup
Tobacco Control Board permit holder search: Arkansas permit holder search

California – Agency page
Cigarette and tobacco licensee list and permit search; many cities and counties add a local permit: California CDTFA licensee list | CDTFA permit search

Colorado – Lookup
Liquor and Tobacco Enforcement license verification and monthly license lists: Colorado license verification | Colorado tobacco license lists

Connecticut – Agency page
Department of Revenue Services lists of dealers and distributors: Connecticut DRS dealer and distributor lists

Delaware – Lookup
Division of Revenue business license search; filter for the Tobacco Retailer activity: Delaware business license search

District of Columbia – Agency page
Business license lookup for DC-licensed retailers: DC business license search

Florida – Lookup
Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco public records, including downloadable retail tobacco dealer permit files: Florida DBPR tobacco public records

Georgia – Agency page
Georgia Tax Center license search; a local business license is also required: Georgia Tax Center

Hawaii – Agency page
Retail Tobacco Permit is issued by the Department of Taxation; licensing information: Hawaii Department of Taxation, licensing

Idaho – Agency page
Tobacco permits are issued through the Department of Health and Welfare: Idaho tobacco permits

Illinois – Agency page
State retailer license exists; the state publishes no retailer lookup. State tobacco information: Illinois Department of Revenue, tobacco

Indiana – Lookup
Alcohol and Tobacco Commission tobacco certificate search: Indiana tobacco certificate search

Iowa – Local or limited licensing
Retailer permits are issued by the city clerk or county auditor. State guidance: Iowa retailer permit information

Kansas – Lookup
Department of Revenue cigarette and tobacco search: Kansas cigarette and tobacco search

Kentucky – Agency page
Alcoholic Beverage Control tobacco retailer database: Kentucky tobacco retailer database

Louisiana – Agency page
Alcohol and Tobacco Control license search: Louisiana ATC license search

Maine – Local or limited licensing
Retail Tobacco Sales License is issued through DHHS; verify with the agency (Tobaccolicensing.DHHS@maine.gov). Agency page: Maine DHHS business licensing

Maryland – Lookup
Tobacco licenses are issued by circuit court clerks; statewide Judiciary dashboard: Maryland tobacco license dashboard

Massachusetts – Agency page
Department of Revenue cigar retailer license information; local board-of-health permits are separate: Massachusetts DOR tobacco excise

Michigan – Local or limited licensing
State tobacco licenses cover wholesalers and vending; retailers need a sales tax license. State guidance: Michigan Department of Treasury, tobacco license

Minnesota – Local or limited licensing
Tobacco retailers are licensed by the city or county. State guidance: Minnesota Department of Revenue, tobacco licensing

Mississippi – Agency page
Retail tobacco permits are issued by the Department of Revenue: Mississippi Department of Revenue, tobacco

Missouri – Lookup
Department of Revenue tobacco licensee list: Missouri tobacco licensee list

Montana – Agency page
Active Tobacco License List published by the Department of Revenue: Montana active tobacco license list (PDF)

Nebraska – Local or limited licensing
Retailers are registered locally with the city, village or county clerk. State guidance: Nebraska Department of Revenue, tobacco products

Nevada – Agency page
Department of Taxation licensed tobacco retail accounts list: Nevada cigarette and other tobacco products tax

New Hampshire – Agency page
The Liquor Commission licenses tobacco retailers: New Hampshire Liquor Commission enforcement

New Jersey – Agency page
Retail Dealer's Cigarette License; the state publishes no retailer lookup: New Jersey retail dealer license

New Mexico – Local or limited licensing
No state retail tobacco license is listed by the state. State guidance: New Mexico tobacco products tax

New York – Lookup
Registered retail dealers open data from NYS Tax and Finance; New York City also requires its own local license: New York registered retail dealers

North Carolina – Agency page
Other tobacco products retail license exists; the state publishes no public retailer list. State bulletin: North Carolina tobacco products tax bulletin

North Dakota – Lookup
Attorney General list of licensed tobacco retailers by city (the file address changes when it is republished): North Dakota tobacco retail licensees (PDF)

Ohio – Local or limited licensing
Cigarette retail licenses are issued by county auditors; no statewide list. State guidance: Ohio Department of Taxation, other tobacco products

Oklahoma – Agency page
Tax Commission retail tobacco license; no public list. State information: Oklahoma Tax Commission, other taxes

Oregon – Agency page
Revenue Online tobacco retail license list; some counties license locally as well: Oregon tobacco retail licenses

Pennsylvania – Lookup
Tobacco Products Tax Licenses open data; Philadelphia also issues a local permit: Pennsylvania tobacco licenses

Rhode Island – Lookup
Division of Taxation dealers list (the file address changes when it is republished): Rhode Island dealers list (PDF)

South Carolina – Agency page
Department of Revenue retail license verification: South Carolina retail license verification

South Dakota – Local or limited licensing
A Retail Nicotine License begins January 1, 2027; no retailer list yet. State information: South Dakota cigarette and tobacco

Tennessee – Local or limited licensing
The state licenses wholesalers; retailers use a county or city business license. State guidance: Tennessee tobacco registration and licensing

Texas – Lookup
Comptroller dataset of all cigarette and tobacco retailers: Texas cigarette and tobacco retailers

Utah – Local or limited licensing
Tobacco retail permits come from the local health department; no statewide list: Utah tobacco licensing and permitting

Vermont – Agency page
Department of Liquor and Lottery licensing lists and reports; municipal approval is also required: Vermont licensing lists and reports

Virginia – Local or limited licensing
No general retail cigar license; the state lists distributors only. State guidance: Virginia tobacco products tax

Washington – Agency page
Liquor and Cannabis Board frequently requested lists, including cigarette, tobacco and vapor licensees: Washington licensee lists

West Virginia – Local or limited licensing
Tobacco is registered through the state business registration; no lookup. State guidance: West Virginia tobacco tax

Wisconsin – Lookup
Department of Revenue retail tobacco license search: Wisconsin retail tobacco license search

Wyoming – Local or limited licensing
Wyoming licenses wholesalers, cigarette importers and manufacturers at the state level, not cigar retailers. State Department of Revenue: Wyoming Department of Revenue

CF Dominicana cigar rollers perform in these states, and every quote is prepared by a Cigar Catering Eventor™. Use the form below to ask about an event in any state.

Cigar Roller for Wedding, Golf, Corporate Los Angeles, New York, Las Vegas, New Jersey, Chicago, Houston, Dallas, Sacramento, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Miami, South Beach, Long Island, Boston, Nashville, Phoenix, Detroit, D.C., Atlanta, Rhode Island, Hamptons, Palm Beach, Connecticut, Orlando, Tampa, San Diego, Salt Lake City, Charlotte, Raleigh, Indiana

CIGAR ROLLER EVENTS BUSINESS HOURS
Mon - Thurs 10am - 5pm
Fri - Sun 10am - 2pm, Note: phones may be closed for
scheduled cigar roller events. You will be given the direct cell phone of your area manager for real-time contact during these hours.