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The following words and phrases, whenever used in this chapter, shall have the meanings defined in this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

A. Arm’s Length Transaction” means a sale in good faith and for valuable consideration that reflects the fair market value in the open market between two informed and willing parties, neither of which is under any compulsion to participate in the transaction. A sale between relatives, related companies or partners, or a sale for which a significant purpose is avoiding the effect of the violations of this chapter is not an Arm’s Length Transaction.

B. Applicant” means the Person applying for a permit pursuant to this chapter.

C. Chief of Police” means the Chief of Police of the City of Chula Vista, or his/her designee.

D. City” means the City of Chula Vista.

E. City Attorney” means the City Attorney for the City of Chula Vista, or his/her designee.

F. Crime of Moral Turpitude” means a crime involving a readiness to do evil, an act of moral depravity of any kind that has a tendency in reason to shake one’s confidence in their honesty, deceit, or fraud.

G. Drug Paraphernalia” has the meaning set forth in California Health and Safety Code Section 11014.5, as that section may be amended from time to time.

H. Electronic Smoking Device” means an electronic device that can be used to deliver an inhaled dose of nicotine, or other substances, including any component, part, or accessory of such a device, whether or not sold separately. “Electronic Smoking Device” includes any such device, whether manufactured, distributed, marketed, or sold as an electronic cigarette, an electronic cigar, an electronic cigarillo, an electronic pipe, an electronic hookah, or any other product name or descriptor. “Electronic Smoking Device” also includes cartridges, cartomizers, e-liquid, smoke juice, tips, atomizers, Electronic Smoking Device batteries, Electronic Smoking Device charges, and any other item specifically designed for the preparation, charging, or use of Electronic Smoking Devices.

I. Flavored Tobacco Product” means a Tobacco Product that contains or emits a taste or smell, other than the taste or smell of tobacco, including, but not limited to, any taste or smell relating to fruit, mint, menthol, wintergreen, chocolate, cocoa, vanilla, honey, candy, dessert, alcoholic beverage, herb, or spice. “Flavored Tobacco Products” do not include products approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for sale either as a tobacco cessation product or for other therapeutic purposes, where the product is marketed and sold solely for such an FDA-approved purpose.

J. Loose-Leaf Tobacco” means cut or shredded pipe tobacco, usually sold in pouches, excluding any tobacco product which, because of its appearance, type, packaging, or labeling, is suitable for use and likely to be offered to, or purchased by, consumers as tobacco for making cigarettes, including roll-your-own cigarettes.

K. Owner” means a Person with an ownership or managerial interest in a business. An ownership interest shall be deemed to exist when a Person has a 20 percent or greater interest in the stock, assets, or income of a business other than the sole interest of security for debt. A managerial interest shall be deemed to exist when a Person can or does have or share ultimate control over the day-to-day operations of a business.

L. Person” means any natural person, partnership, cooperative association, corporation, personal representative, receiver, trustee, assignee, or any other legal entity.

M. Premium Cigars” means any cigar that is handmade, has a wrapper that is made entirely from whole tobacco leaf, and has a wholesale price of no less than $12.00. A Premium Cigar does not have filter, tip, or nontobacco mouth.

N. Police Department” means the Chula Vista Police Department, and any agency or Person designated by the Department to enforce or administer the provisions of this chapter.

O. Self-Service Display” means the open display or storage of Tobacco Products or Tobacco Paraphernalia in a manner that is physically accessible in any way to the general public without the assistance of the retailer or employee of the retailer and a direct person-to-person transfer between the purchaser and the retailer or employee of the retailer. A vending machine is a form of Self-Service Display.

P. Shisha” means a tobacco product that is mixed with molasses, honey, fruit, or dried fruits and is sold for use in a hookah.

Q. Tobacco Paraphernalia” means any item designed for the consumption, use, or preparation of a Tobacco Product.

R. Tobacco Product” means:

1. Any substance containing or derived from tobacco leaf or nicotine, including but not limited to cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, snuff, chewing tobacco, dipping tobacco, or any other preparation of tobacco;

2. Any Electronic Smoking Device;

3. Notwithstanding any provision of subsections (R)(1) and(R)(2) of this section to the contrary, “tobacco product” includes any component, part, or accessory of a tobacco product, whether or not sold separately. “Tobacco Product” does not include any product that has been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for sale as a tobacco cessation product or for other therapeutic purposes where such product is marketed and sold solely for such an approved purpose.

S. Tobacco Retailer” means any Person who sells, offers for sale, or does or offers to exchange for any form of consideration tobacco, Tobacco Products or Tobacco Paraphernalia. “Tobacco Retailing” shall mean the doing of any of these things. This definition is without regard to the quantity of Tobacco Products or Tobacco Paraphernalia sold, offered for sale, exchanged, or offered for exchange. Tobacco Retailer does not include persons licensed by the City to conduct commercial cannabis activity in accordance with Chapter 5.19 CVMC. (Ord. 3525 § 1, 2022; Ord. 3417 § 1, 2018).