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Redondo Beach council introduces smoke-shop ordinance to limit and regulate tobacco retailers
Summary
Council unanimously introduced an ordinance that would require conditional use permits for smoke shops, cap the number in the city at five (phased in), and add detailed definitions covering synthetic nicotine and flavored products; staff and the city attorney said enforcement will rely on existing police tools and conditional-use review.
The Redondo Beach City Council on Tuesday introduced by title an ordinance to regulate smoke shops and tobacco retail stores, moving the measure forward after months of staff work and public comment. Staff said the draft ordinance creates new municipal definitions for "smoke shop" and "tobacco retailer," requires a conditional use permit for smoke shops (rather than allowing them by-right), and phases in a citywide cap of five smoke shops over five years.
City planning director Mark Weiner told the council the ordinance also tightens language around flavored and synthetically derived nicotine. Assistant City Attorney Cheryl Park said the definitions incorporate state guidance and Health & Safety Code cross-references so the law covers "characterizing flavor, nicotine salts and synthetic nicotine analogs." She added that violations would be infractions to give the city penalties that are easier to enforce.
Supporters and opponents spoke at the hearing. Resident Wayne Craig urged enforcement tools so staff and police could inspect and regulate storefront activity near children's venues. Sandbox Smoke Shop owner Jerome described repeated burglaries and said he supported the city—s effort so long as legitimate operators are protected.
Council members discussed enforceability and design controls. Mayor Light asked about signage and visibility; staff pointed to conditional-use standards and a pending comprehensive sign ordinance that will further restrict exterior advertising for tobacco products. Council members also noted the practical challenges of checking IDs at entry and emphasized that point-of-sale ID checks remain an enforcement tool.
The council voted unanimously to introduce the ordinance by title with the blue-folder amendments and return it for subsequent readings and a formal adoption vote.
What happens next: staff will prepare the formal ordinance language and return with a schedule for later readings; any enforcement and implementation details will be further refined in the conditional-use permit process and in coordination with Redondo Beach Police Department.
