Tobacco and vape product retailers
Rules for selling tobacco and vape products.
This information will help retailers and organizations understand and comply with the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017.
Business and organizations must post signs to indicate where people cannot smoke or vape cannabis or tobacco. No smoking, no vaping signs for businesses.
Retailers are also required to post certain signs in their stores to sell tobacco or vapour products (such as e-cigarettes). For sign requirements, the types of signs available and to access PDF versions of the signs, refer to Ontario's rules for selling tobacco and vapour products.
Opening a new business
If you are opening a new tobacco or vape business in Peel, you should notify Peel Public Health. Report a new business.
To request a property search for a business inspected by Peel Public Health refer to property information request.
Order retailer signs
Retailers can order signs from Peel Public Health. For details refer to order tobacco and vapour product retailer signs.
Specialty vape stores
The Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 allows the sampling of vapour products and the display of vapour products in specialty vape stores if they meet certain conditions. To learn the definition of a specialty vape store, and the conditions for the exemption, refer to rules for selling vapour products.
Register as a specialty vape store
Tobacconists
The Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 allows tobacconists to display and promote specialty tobacco products under certain conditions. To learn the definition of a tobacconist, and the conditions for the exemption refer to rules for being a tobacconist.
Prospective buyers of tobacco retail dealer premises are strongly encouraged to contact Peel Public Health to confirm premises conviction history.
A premises with 2 or more tobacco sales convictions against any owner (past or present) at that address within a 5-year period is subject to a Notice of Prohibition Against the Sale, Storage and Delivery of Tobacco Products (known as an automatic prohibition).
Section 22 of the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 states that upon becoming aware that there are 2 or more convictions against any owner for tobacco sales offences committed at the same place within a 5-year period, the Ministry of Health shall notify the owner or occupant of the place that the sale, storage and delivery of tobacco products is prohibited at the place.
The Ministry of Health accepts requests from public health units for automatic prohibitions where owners of the business were convicted of tobacco sales offences on 2 occasions within a 5-year period. The Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 convictions report published on public health units' websites lists all owner related tobacco sales convictions that are eligible for an automatic prohibition. Automatic prohibitions do not apply to vapour products sales convictions.
To learn more about premise conviction history and property information requests in Peel Region, email Peel Public Health or call 905-799-7700, Caledon 905-584-2216.
