Orangeburg council adopts ordinance restricting new vape shops in many zones

The City of Orangeburg City Council on second reading adopted an amendment to the city zoning ordinance that limits where new tobacco retail establishments — commonly described at the meeting as "vape shops" — may open within the city.

Planning staff presenting the ordinance said, "I I wanna make it clear that this ordinance would not, run any more out of business. This would not apply to current vape shops. This would apply to any, vape shops that would seek to, to open within, the city limits," and said the amendment was recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission.

The ordinance prohibits new vape shops in residential zoning districts A1, A2 and A3, in office institutional (OI) and general business B1 districts, and in planned development or historical conservation districts. Presenter remarks at the hearing said vape shops would be permitted in B2 and B3 business districts, but could not locate within 2,000 feet of another vape shop. The amendment also bars new vape shops from being within 1,000 feet of a place of worship, an educational facility, or an establishment whose principal source of gross revenue is the distribution of alcoholic beverages.

Councilman O'Kitt moved adoption of the ordinance and Councilman Hannah seconded. The mayor called for the vote; the record shows the motion carried with "ayes" recorded but individual roll-call votes were not specified in the transcript.

Supporters of the ordinance and the Planning and Zoning Commission framed the measure as a density and location restriction rather than a closure of existing businesses. The ordinance language presented at the meeting explicitly grandfathered in existing vape shops.

The council adopted the amendment at second reading; no additional implementation steps or effective dates were specified in the public portion of the meeting.