Policy in San Joaquin County

Local Tobacco Retail Licensing (TRL)

STOPP supports county and city staff in adopting and implementing policies that improve public health, such as a tobacco retail license (TRL). A TRL is an effective way to ensure compliance with local, state, and federal tobacco laws, reduce youth access to tobacco, address oversaturation of tobacco retailers, and limit the negative public health effects associated with tobacco use. A TRL can also help reduce tobacco-related health inequities by countering the tobacco industry’s predatory marketing tactics of underserved communities. Comprehensive TRL policies can also allow jurisdictions to apply their own penalties if a retailer violates any law related to tobacco sales, such as selling to underage youth.

San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors and the City of Stockton are both actively working to strengthen tobacco regulations to protect youth and communities through: 

• Smoke Shop Moratoriums and Revisions to Local Ordinances: The San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors and the Stockton City Council have moved to place moratoriums on new smoke shops in unincorporated areas and Stockton City limits. These temporary bans aim to pause the rapid increase of shops selling flavored tobacco products while more comprehensive regulations are considered.  Stockton leaders are revisiting the city’s tobacco retailer ordinance to give it more “teeth,” ensuring it can be enforced more effectively. Proposed updates include stricter penalties and requiring compliance with state regulations on flavored products.

  • Local news articles that discuss smoke shops moratorium and revisions to local ordinances:  

    1. Board moves to impose moratorium on smoke shops

    2. Stockton vice mayor seeks moratorium on smoke shops

    3. San Joaquin County eyes moratorium on new smoke shops: ‘A hot mess’

    4. Supervisors moving toward moratorium on new smoke shops

    5. Stockton puts moratorium on smoke shops while leaders consider changes to city's ordinance

• Enhanced Enforcement: Stockton police, in partnership with city officials, have launched crackdowns on tobacco retailers  that are found violating flavored tobacco bans and other sales regulations. This includes undercover operations targeting illegal sales to minors.

  • Local Articles that discuss enhances enforcement on illegal tobacco sales: 

    1. Stockton police to crack down on tobacco retailers

    2. Stockton police plan crackdown on smoke shops over flavored tobacco sales

These policy efforts reflect how local and county-level action—in tandem with state and federal regulations—can build a stronger, multi-layered defense against nicotine and tobacco harm, particularly among youth.

The SJC TRL Factsheet