Norwalk hearing imposes $15,000 fine on 336 Westport vape shop after repeated code violations and police raid

NORWALK, Conn. — The Norwalk hearing officer imposed a $15,000 fine on 336 Westport LLC at a Planning & Zoning citation hearing on June 25, 2025, after city staff described repeated operation of a vape/tobacco storefront without required approvals and a police raid earlier that morning that produced bags of marijuana, nitrous oxide and other controlled substances.

City zoning staff told the hearing the business has been the subject of repeated enforcement actions dating to March 2025 and had previously received a $7,500 fine earlier this year. “This violation has been ongoing since March 5,” the staff report said during the hearing; the hearing officer marked the record and concluded the city would assess $15,000 based on the duration of noncompliance and the prior enforcement history. The hearing officer said, “Okay. $15,000. Okay.”

Why this matters: The case raises public-safety and regulatory concerns because the property was reported operating without a proper fit-up or business permit, within separation limits that city rules now impose on stand-alone vape/tobacco shops, and because staff reported a same-day police action. The enforcement action folds together land-use violations and public-safety evidence gathered by police.

What staff reported and the city’s basis for the fine - City staff said the location had been operating “without permits” and had failed to secure a fit-up approval; staff noted an earlier enforcement action and a $7,500 fine this year for essentially the same violations. The citation that led to the June 25 hearing was issued after repeated complaints and follow-up inspections. - Staff reported that the business had submitted a fit-up application that “could not be approved as submitted” and that the site was the subject of prior continuing proceedings. Staff said the store’s fit-up application had been communicated back to the applicant on May 29 for revision. - During the hearing staff said they learned the business was “raided by the police this morning, and they found bags of marijuana and nitrous oxide and other drugs.” That reporting formed part of the hearing record; staff also said the location had not requested a hearing in response to the underlying citation.

Enforcement outcome and next steps - The hearing officer set the fine at $15,000 at the hearing and placed that amount on the record, citing the length of the ongoing violation since March and the prior enforcement history. - Staff noted the case file includes police documentation of the morning’s raid; the record will be updated with any further criminal-procedure outcomes from law enforcement. - At the hearing staff said they are working to place fines on the property tax bill where appropriate and to continue administrative enforcement channels if compliance is not achieved.

What the record does not show - The property owner or an attorney for 336 Westport LLC did not present testimony at the hearing and did not directly address the city’s characterization of the police activity during the administrative proceeding. Statements about the police action were made on the record by city staff and the hearing officer; the transcript does not include direct remarks from law enforcement in the hearing itself.

The hearing record and next scheduled appearance - The citation file and police materials were accepted into the hearing record by the officer. The transcript indicates the matter was adjudicated at the June 25 session with the $15,000 fine recorded; the city will proceed with its administrative collection and enforcement processes.