NC vape directory: what shops can sell and the fines

How the NC vape directory works

Every manufacturer of vapor or consumable products sold at retail in North Carolina must certify each product to the NC Department of Revenue, including its standing with the FDA, and renew by March 1 each year. NCDOR lists certified products in a public directory that it updates monthly. If a product is not on the directory, a shop may not buy it for resale or sell it.

Penalties for retailers

• First violation: a warning and a reinspection within 30 days.
• Second violation within 12 months: a $500 to $750 fine and a 30-day license suspension.
• Third or later violation within 12 months: a $1,000 to $1,500 fine and license revocation.
• From the second violation on, unlisted products can be seized and destroyed at the retailer’s cost.
• NCDOR says compliance checks may be unannounced.

Other NC vape rules to know

• Vapor Products License: if you receive or store vapor products on which NC excise tax has not been paid, you need an NCDOR Vapor Products License for each location (required since July 1, 2024) and must file Form B-A-102 every month, even with no activity.
• Age: federal law bars selling any tobacco product, including vapes, to anyone under 21, and requires photo ID for every buyer under 30. NC law separately bars sales to anyone under 18.

How to stay on the right side of the directory

• Check every product you stock against the current NCDOR directory, and check again each month when it updates.
• Ask your distributor to confirm in writing that what they ship you is listed.
• Pull unlisted products from the shelf right away and return them to the distributor or wholesaler.
• Keep your directory checks on file in case of an inspection.

Get an alert when the rules change

PolyWise watches NCDOR notices and North Carolina vape rules for vape and smoke shops, and sends a short alert when something changes that affects what you can sell.

Official sources

• NCDOR notice: Vapor Product and Consumable Product Certification and Directory
• NCDOR notice: Vapor Products License requirements
• N.C. General Statute 14-313 (youth access to tobacco and vapor products)
• FDA: Tobacco 21