Morton Grove holds first reading on tobacco and alternative nicotine licensing; moratorium proposed for 2025

At the Aug. 12 meeting the Village Board gave first reading to Ordinance 25-24, which would add Title 4, Chapter 6 to the municipal code (tobacco and alternative nicotine products) and amend Title 6, Chapter 3 to clarify the prevention of tobacco use by persons under 21.

The draft ordinance creates two license categories: Class A accessory licenses (where tobacco is a secondary sale among food and beverage or other primary business) and Class B licenses for businesses whose primary purpose is selling tobacco-related products. The code language included a 1,000-foot separation standard between like licenses and a prohibition on selling or transferring an existing license to another party.

Village staff told trustees the ordinance is intended to provide clearer guidance for applicants and to set a limit on the number of licenses. Staff proposed an effective date of Jan. 1, 2026 to align with the business-compliance-certificate calendar and said the board will consider a moratorium on new licenses for the remainder of 2025 so all applicants are on the same timeline.

Trustee Thill asked how the separation requirement would affect currently existing businesses closer than 1,000 feet apart. Staff said such existing businesses would be grandfathered; if a business closed and the location remained vacant for a year, the separation rule would apply to new applicants. Staff also confirmed that tobacco-specific stores would be subject to 21-and-over entry requirements, while accessory locations could still admit younger patrons although they could not purchase tobacco.

Because this was a first reading, no vote was taken. Staff indicated the ordinance and a proposed moratorium would return for board consideration at a subsequent meeting.