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Council approves amended hookah-lounge rules after manager requests extended hours
Summary
Council accepted committee amendments to the city's hookah-lounge rules (Ordinance 2026-04-e), including a 2:30 a.m. closing time, age minimum of 21, required interior/exterior cameras and random inspections, then passed the ordinance on third reading with a unanimous roll call.
Sharonville City Council on Feb. 24 accepted committee amendments to the city's hookah-lounge regulations and passed Amended Ordinance 2026-04-e on third reading.
The amended rules set an age minimum of 21, extend allowable hours to 2:30 a.m., and add requirements for an approved interior and exterior camera system and random inspections by first responders and city staff. Council accepted the committee amendments by voice vote and later approved the ordinance on third reading by unanimous roll call.
During public comment, Kareem Fahmy, manager of Sahara Hookah Lounge, thanked council for prior engagement and asked that council consider additional extended hours on holidays and weekends (requesting 3:30 a.m. on select nights). Fahmy said the business would increase security and cleanup if later hours were allowed. Council members acknowledged the proprietors' engagement and said the ordinance represents a compromise reached in committee.
The ordinance advanced after motions to untable and to accept the amendments. Those motions were made by Councilwoman Sharpshire (mover) and seconded by Councilman Cook during the untable/accept-amendments vote; the third-reading motion was made by Councilman Cook and seconded by Councilwoman Sharpshire. The roll call recorded yes votes from Cook, Sharpshire, Citadino, Lovett, Cox, Knight and Schmidt.
The ordinance was advanced with an emergency declaration; staff and the law committee had vetted the changes in prior meetings.
