Iowa Code § 453A.47A — IA Code / Title X / Chapter 453A / Section 453A.47A
Retailers — permits — fees — penalties.
Status: in_force

(1) A person shall not engage in the business of a retailer of tobacco, tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or vapor products at any place of business, or through delivery sales, without first having received a permit as a retailer.

(2) A retailer shall not sell any tobacco, tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or vapor products until an application has been filed and the fee prescribed paid for a permit and until such permit is obtained and only while such permit is not suspended, unrevoked, or unexpired.

(3) An application shall be filed and a permit obtained for each place of business owned or operated by a retailer located in the state. If an out-of-state retailer makes delivery sales of alternative nicotine products or vapor products, an application shall be filed with the department and a permit shall be issued for the out-of-state retailer’s principal place of business.

(4) A retailer, as defined in section 453A.1, who holds a permit under subchapter I of this chapter is not required to also obtain a retail permit under this subchapter. However, if a retailer, as defined in section 453A.1, only holds a permit under subchapter I of this chapter and that permit is suspended, revoked, or expired, the retailer shall not sell any tobacco, tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or vapor products during the time which the permit is suspended, revoked, or expired.

(5) A separate retail permit shall be required of a distributor or subjobber if the distributor or subjobber sells tobacco, tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or vapor products at retail.

(6) Cities may approve retail permit applications of applicants located within their respective limits. County boards of supervisors may approve retail permit applications of applicants located in their respective counties, outside of the corporate limits of cities. Upon approval of a retail permit application by a city or county, the department shall issue the permit to the applicant on behalf of the city or county, in the manner determined by the department. A city or county shall use the electronic portal of the department to process retail permit applications. A city or county that is unable to use the electronic portal of the department may request permission from the director to process retail applications by another method. The department shall submit the current list of all retail permits issued to the department of health and human services by the last day of each quarter of a state fiscal year.

(7) (a) All permits provided for in this subchapter shall expire on June 30 of each year. A permit shall not be granted or issued until the applicant has paid the fees to the department required in this section for the next period ending on June 30. The fee for retail permits is as follows when the permit is granted during the month of July, August, or September:

(7) (a) In places outside any city, fifty dollars.

(7) (a) In cities of less than fifteen thousand population, seventy-five dollars.

(7) (a) In cities of fifteen thousand or more population, one hundred dollars.

(7) (b) If any permit is granted during the month of October, November, or December, the fee shall be three-fourths of the above maximum schedule; if granted during the month of January, February, or March, one-half of the maximum schedule; and if granted during the month of April, May, or June, one-fourth of the maximum schedule.

(8) (a) An unrevoked permit for which the retailer paid the full annual fee may be surrendered during the first nine months of the year to the officer issuing it, and the city or county granting the permit shall make refunds to the retailer as follows:

(8) (a) Three-fourths of the annual fee if the surrender is made during July, August, or September.

(8) (a) One-half of the annual fee if the surrender is made during October, November, or December.

(8) (a) One-fourth of the annual fee if the surrender is made during January, February, or March.

(8) (b) An unrevoked permit for which the retailer has paid three-fourths of a full annual fee may be surrendered during the first six months of the period covered by the payment, and the city or county shall make refunds to the retailer as follows:

(8) (b) A sum equal to one-half of an annual fee if the surrender is made during October, November, or December.

(8) (b) A sum equal to one-fourth of an annual fee if the surrender is made during January, February, or March.

(8) (c) An unrevoked permit for which the retailer has paid one-half of a full annual fee may be surrendered during the first three months of the period covered by the payment, and the city or county shall refund to the retailer a sum equal to one-fourth of an annual fee.

(9) Retail permits shall be issued only upon applications, accompanied by the fee indicated above, made upon forms furnished by the department. Applications, any supporting documentation, and the associated fees required by this section shall be submitted to the department electronically. The forms shall specify:

(9) (a) The manner under which the retailer transacts or intends to transact business as a retailer.

(9) (b) The principal office, residence, and place of business, for which the permit is to apply.

(9) (c) If the applicant is not an individual, the principal officers or members of the applicant, not to exceed three, and their addresses.

(9) (d) Such other information as the director shall by rules prescribe.

(10) (a) The director shall prescribe the forms necessary for the efficient administration of this section and may require uniform books and records to be used and kept by each retailer or other person as deemed necessary.

(10) (b) Every retailer shall, when requested by the department, make additional reports as the department deems necessary and proper and shall at the request of the department furnish full and complete information pertaining to any transaction of the retailer involving the purchase or sale or use of tobacco, tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or vapor products. A report required to be submitted to the department pursuant to this subsection shall be submitted electronically.

(11) The permit suspension and revocation provisions and the civil penalties established in section 453A.22 shall apply to retailers under this subchapter, in addition to any other penalties imposed under this subchapter.

2005 Acts, ch 93, §4; 2005 Acts, ch 179, §131; 2011 Acts, ch 63, §17; 2013 Acts, ch 70, §24; 2014 Acts, ch 1109, §12; 2017 Acts, ch 170, §67; 2017 Acts, ch 171, §612018 Acts, ch 1026, §140; 2018 Acts, ch 1041, §127; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §1156, 2466; 2025 Acts, ch 132, §27 – 30