Richmond extends tobacco‑retailer moratorium, directs staff to propose phased rules and grandfathering window

Richmond City Council voted to extend a temporary moratorium on new tobacco retailer permits for another 12 months and directed staff to return with proposed regulatory language, enforcement recommendations and a limited grandfathering process for certain legacy retailers.

Council took the step after a staff presentation showing a sharp growth of unlicensed tobacco and “smoke‑shop” operations and new state laws banning many flavored tobacco products. The extension was framed as a pause to give the city time to finalize local licensing, enforcement and confiscation procedures that reflect recent state rules.

The moratorium extension is intended to preserve the status quo while staff completes community engagement and drafting of changes to Richmond Municipal Code. Lina Velasco, the city’s director of community development, told council that inspections since the original 2024 moratorium showed not only unlicensed retailers but “underage attendants,” concealed product storage and sales of unlawful cannabis and drug paraphernalia alongside tobacco. She…