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Arapahoe County Board of Health backs Aurora tobacco retail license ordinance
Summary
The Arapahoe County Board of Health voted to send a letter of support to the City of Aurora for a tobacco retail license ordinance that would require separate licensing for tobacco and nicotine retailers, increase compliance checks and impose graduated penalties for sales to minors.
The Arapahoe County Board of Health voted to send a letter of support to the City of Aurora for a proposed tobacco retail license ordinance, saying the measure would strengthen checks on retailers and help reduce youth access to tobacco and nicotine products.
Jennifer (presenter) told the board the ordinance would require separate licenses for all tobacco retailers and enable more frequent compliance checks, including two inspections per year and graduated civil penalties for sales to minors. "This would require all tobacco retailers to have a different a separate license," she said, describing the ordinance as the product of sustained youth engagement and city staff work.
Board members asked how the ordinance would affect adults and whether it risked unfairly burdening low-income or minority communities. One director asked whether the measure might push youth toward vaping. Jennifer and a program staff member said the ordinance covers all tobacco and nicotine products, including vapes and nicotine pouches, and that compliance checks and additional signage and technical assistance are intended to reduce youth access while minimizing harms to business owners.
Before the vote, directors discussed adding citations and data to the support letter so council members could review the evidence behind the youth complaints and the county's recommendations. Board staff said citations to Healthy Kids Colorado and materials previously provided to Aurora city staff are available and can be appended to the letter.
Chair moved to approve the letter as presented; the motion was seconded and the board approved it by voice vote. The letter will be signed and PDFed for Aurora in time for its study session and first reading.
The board did not take a municipal or regulatory role in Aurora's enforcement; presenters said city licensing staff would coordinate compliance checks and that Arapahoe County would provide technical assistance funded through Amendment 35 dollars. The board motion passed and the letter will be sent with the suggested edits and citations attached.
What happens next: The Board of Health's letter will be signed, finalized with citations, and sent to Aurora ahead of the city council's study session and first reading.
