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Newport News adopts new rules for vape shops, including 9 a.m.–9 p.m. hours and a 20% threshold
Summary
The city council approved two zoning-text amendments on Sept. 23 that add a definition and general regulations for "vape shops" and include a revised draft that reduces a numeric threshold from 50% to 20% and limits operating hours to 9 a.m.–9 p.m.; vape shops were also added to the C-2 district use table.
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Newport News City Council on Sept. 23 adopted two zoning-text amendments that define and regulate "vape shops" and add the use to the list of permitted uses in the C-2 General Commercial district.
The council voted to approve a revised draft of the ordinance that incorporated planning-commission recommendations. The revision reduced a numeric threshold in two places from 50% to 20% and added an hours-of-operation limit of 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The council later approved a companion amendment to allow vape shops in the C-2 district by right.
Why it matters: City officials said the regulatory changes are intended to provide local standards for vape retailers where previously there was little or no local regulation, and council members tied the move to public-safety and youth-protection concerns.
What the meeting record shows
- The zoning text amendment was introduced as Zulu Tango-2025-0004 (definitions; general regulations) and Zulu Tango-2025-0005 (summary of uses by district). The planning commission recommended the specific revisions that were read into the record and adopted by council.
- The revision specifically changed a draft provision reading "50%" to "20%" (the meeting record reads that both places where the percentage appeared were amended). The revised ordinance also adds a clear hours-of-operation restriction: 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
- The council thanked planning staff and the planning commission for their work; Mayor Philip Jones said, "Once again, thank you to staff for all the hard work on that as well as, Councilman Coleman who leads our public safety committee." The ordinance passed on a unanimous vote as recorded in the meeting transcript.
Remaining details and implementation
The meeting record indicates staff will publish the revised ordinance language and update zoning materials. The transcript does not include subsequent details on enforcement procedures, buffer distances, or licensing; those elements, if present, will be reflected in the published ordinance text available from the city clerk’s office.
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