Dalton council enacts ban on new standalone vape and tobacco stores

Dalton’s mayor and council voted March 16 to enact Ordinance 26-02, a measure that bans new standalone “vape and tobacco stores” within city limits and sets specific definitions and conditions for existing establishments.

City Attorney Jonathan Bledsoe summarized the ordinance, saying it had been revised after public input “to be a ban on vape and tobacco stores that are located within the city.” The measure defines a covered store as one that derives at least 25% of its gross revenue from regulated products, devotes at least 25% of its floor space to those products or maintains at least 500 square feet of space devoted to regulated products; the ordinance also lists regulated products and excludes cigar bars and gasoline stations.

Council members discussed enforcement, scope and the status of existing businesses. The ordinance includes a grandfathering provision allowing current vapor/tobacco stores to continue operating if they hold a valid occupational tax certificate and continue to meet code requirements. Grandfathered status would be lost if a business ceased operations for 30 days, the principal owner died, the business declared bankruptcy, it moved locations, lost an occupational tax certificate or had an owner/agent convicted of certain crimes tied to sales at the store.

Council Member Ferro, who pressed for action, said he had observed multiple such stores along Glenwood Avenue and argued the ordinance would reduce visible concentrations of specialty tobacco outlets. After a motion and second, the council approved the ordinance by voice vote.

The ordinance was presented as a second reading and took effect according to the city’s codified procedures; the council did not record a roll-call tally during the voice vote. The ordinance text provides the specific definitions, grandfathering rules and forfeiture conditions that will govern enforcement going forward.