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Council introduces ordinance to restrict retail nitrous‑oxide sales after local incidents
Summary
Staff presented a proposed ordinance to prohibit retail sale and distribution of nitrous oxide in most retailers while preserving legitimate medical/industrial uses; staff cited police data (about 124 related arrests 2023–2025) and several crashes linked to nitrous‑oxide misuse. Council introduced and adopted the item on first reading unanimously.
The City of Orange introduced an ordinance to restrict retail sales and distribution of nitrous oxide following enforcement findings and a series of incidents.
Code enforcement presented findings that nitrous oxide was widely available at local tobacco retailers in varying sizes—ranging from small 8‑gram canisters to large tanks—and that police had tracked roughly 124 related arrests between 2023 and 2025. Staff referenced several serious crashes and injuries in which nitrous‑oxide misuse was a factor and recommended a citywide prohibition on retail availability except for legitimate uses such as medical/dental supply, wholesale industrial supply, and licensed vehicle performance shops.
The ordinance would preserve state‑recognized and licensed uses while removing shelf availability of small personal‑use canisters from general retail outlets. Staff said Orange County and several other cities have adopted similar local regulations. The council advanced the ordinance on first reading unanimously and directed staff to proceed with implementation planning and outreach to affected businesses and entities that rely on legitimate supplies.
