City Council adopts ordinance regulating vape shops, sets permitting timetable and 21‑and‑over rule

The Shreveport City Council on Tuesday adopted an ordinance creating a new chapter of the city code to regulate vapor product retailers and shops and to restrict access to minors.

The ordinance, identified in the meeting as the chapter 11 vapor‑retailer measure, passed unanimously with a 7‑0 vote after an amendment setting phased effective dates. The amendment delays the sections establishing permitting, location and employee requirements until Jan. 2, 2026, to give the Shreveport Police Department time to establish the permitting process; sections on hours of operation and prohibiting underage persons on premises are effective upon council approval.

Council members said they supported immediate action while planning further changes to address compliance across retail types. "I just think if we start here, that we could work toward whatever we need to, to balance it out," Councilman…