The City of El Cajon's Planning Commission convened on September 16, 2025, to discuss potential changes to regulations surrounding tobacco display areas and smoke shops. This meeting was prompted by a request from the City Council on July 22, 2025, to explore options for increasing the display area for tobacco products and to consider relocating existing smoke shops.

City staff presented recommendations for feedback on preferred alternatives regarding these changes. Currently, tobacco retailers are allowed a display area of up to 16 cubic feet. Any display area exceeding this limit classifies the establishment as a smoke shop, which requires a conditional use permit and must adhere to specific separation standards from sensitive uses and residential areas. The existing smoke shop ordinance was established in February 2006, and any smoke shops that were operational at that time are considered legal nonconforming, meaning they do not meet the current regulations but were established legally.

As of now, El Cajon has a total of 97 tobacco retail sales locations, which include 89 tobacco retailers and 8 smoke shops. Staff conducted site visits to all 97 locations to assess their operations. A key concern raised during the council meeting was that the current display area is insufficient for larger items, such as hookahs. The staff found that approximately 24 out of the 97 tobacco retailers are currently displaying hookah products.

The commission will continue to refine the proposed changes, including updates to align with state law changes that now require individuals to be 21 years of age to purchase tobacco products. The next steps will involve further discussions and potential revisions to the ordinance based on community feedback and regulatory updates.