It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, corporation, or other entity to sell vape products in the City of Norwalk without first having obtained a license to do so from the City Clerk.
[Amended 6-24-2025]
Each applicant for a license to sell vape products shall file an application with the City Clerk and shall pay a filing fee in an amount set by the City Clerk and approved by the Common Council. Such fee is due and payable at the time of application and is not refundable. Initial applications for licenses for existing retailers to sell vape products are due no later than September 1, 2025, and upon issuance, such license will be valid until December 31, 2025. There will be no fees for these initial applications. Fees for licenses shall be collected for the license period commencing on January 1, 2026, and all subsequent years.
The application for a license to sell vape products shall a) be in a form prescribed by the City Clerk, b) be signed and sworn by the applicant, and c) include the following information:
A. 
If the applicant is a natural person, then they shall provide their name, residential address, business address and date of birth. If the applicant is not a natural person, then it shall provide the names, residential addresses, business addresses and date of birth of each shareholder, director, officer, member, or partner of the applicant.
B. 
If the applicant is a natural person, then they shall provide two portrait photographs of themself, at least two inches by two inches, and a complete set of their fingerprints. If the applicant is not a natural person, the application shall include two portrait photographs and a complete set of fingerprints of each shareholder, director, officer, member, or partner of the applicant. Said fingerprints shall be taken by the Chief of Police, who shall also conduct a criminal background check.
C. 
If the applicant is a natural person, then they shall provide a list of all criminal convictions, except minor traffic violations. If the applicant is not a natural person, then it shall provide a list of all criminal convictions, except for minor traffic violations, of each shareholder, director, officer, member, or partner of the applicant.
D. 
The location of the establishment where vape products are to be sold.
E. 
Plans for the physical layout of the establishment.
F. 
A list of the type of vape products to be sold.
G. 
Copies of all required certificates, permits and licenses, showing proper compliance with all applicable rules, regulations, ordinances, and statutes, including zoning, building and health laws and regulations.
H. 
A written statement that the applicant has or will provide training to all the applicant's salespersons on the sale of vape products, including:
(1) 
That the sale of vape products to a person under the age of 21 years of age is illegal;
(2) 
What proof of age is legally acceptable; and
(3) 
That a sale to a person under 21 years of age can subject the retailer to a monetary fine and suspension of the license to sell vape products.
I. 
Such other information the City Clerk shall deem necessary to determine whether the applicant is eligible for a license under this chapter.
[Amended 6-24-2025]
Applications for licenses to sell vape products shall be submitted to the City Clerk not more than 60 days after the effective date of this chapter for an existing retailer. A new retailer shall submit an application for a license to sell vape products at least 60 days before the proposed opening of its establishment. A copy of the application shall be simultaneously submitted to the Chief of Police and the City Clerk. Any license issued under this chapter shall be valid until the next renewal date unless suspended or revoked. Upon denial of an application, the City Clerk shall notify the applicant in writing not less than 30 days after receipt. The denial shall include the facts and specific sections of this chapter upon which the determination was made. Notification shall be sent by certified mail to the applicant's residence or place of business. Said notification shall be deemed complete seven days following the date of mailing.
[Amended 6-24-2025]
A. 
The City Clerk shall issue a license to sell vape products within 45 days following receipt of the application, provided the application complies with the provisions of this chapter and upon finding:
(1) 
All requirements concerning operations and facilities described in this chapter will be complied with as of the effective date of the permit.
(2) 
Compliance with all other statutes, codes or ordinances, including health, zoning, building, fire and safety requirements of the City and the State of Connecticut as of the effective date of the license.
(3) 
The applicant/retailer has not had two or more violations of any provision of the Norwalk City Code within the last 24 months.
(4) 
The applicant/retailer has no outstanding violations of any provision of the Norwalk City Code.
(5) 
Neither the applicant, if a natural person, nor any shareholder, director, officer, member, or partner of the applicant, if the applicant is not a natural person, has been convicted of any felony.
(6) 
The applicant is at least 21 years of age.
B. 
Upon issuance, the license shall be valid for a period beginning with the date of the license until December 31 of that same year, unless sooner suspended or revoked in accordance with this chapter, or unless the retailer to whom it was issued discontinues the business. In either case, the holder of the license shall immediately return it to the City Clerk.
A retailer's license shall be visible to the public inside the retailer's establishment at all times. In the event of mutilation or destruction of such license, a duplicate copy, marked as such, shall be issued by the City Clerk, upon application accompanied by the mutilated license or, if the license has been destroyed, an affidavit signed and sworn by the retailer attesting to such fact and the circumstances of such destruction. A fee for such duplicate license shall be set by the City Clerk and approved by the Common Council.
A license to sell vape products may be renewed in accordance with the following:
A. 
Applications for renewal shall be made at least 90 days before expiration and shall be in the form prescribed by the City Clerk and signed and sworn by the applicant.
B. 
Each application for renewal of a license shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable fee in the amount set by the City Clerk and approved by the Common Council. Such fee is due and payable at the time of the application for renewal.
C. 
The City Clerk shall renew each license upon making the findings required for issuance of the original license.
D. 
No license shall be renewed if:
(1) 
The applicant/retailer is in violation of any provision of this chapter;
(2) 
The applicant/retailer has any outstanding violations or fines pursuant to any Norwalk City Code provision;
(3) 
The applicant/retailer has two or more violations of any provision of the Norwalk City Code within the last 24 months; or
(4) 
The current license of the applicant/retailer has been suspended or revoked.
E. 
A license shall not be transferable, including from one retailer to another retailer or from one location to another location; provided, however, that in the case of a natural person, upon the death or incapacity of the retailer who obtained the license, the establishment may continue in business for a period not to exceed 60 days to allow for an orderly transfer of the business to a successor licensee. During this period, the successor must complete all the steps required under this chapter for obtaining an initial license.
F. 
If renewal of the license is denied, the City Clerk shall notify the applicant/retailer in writing not less than 30 days before expiration of the license including the facts and specific section or sections of this chapter upon which this determination was made. Notification shall be sent by certified mail to the applicant/retailer's residence or place of business. Said notification shall be deemed complete seven days following the date of mailing.