Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Regulatory Moratorium topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
City enacts six-month moratorium on retail liquor/package and vape-related business licenses
Summary
Warner Robins approved a resolution imposing a moratorium through June 2, 2026, on new retail liquor/package-store licenses and business licenses for vape, low-THC, tobacco and cannabidiol products to allow staff time to draft ordinance amendments addressing distance requirements and saturation.
The Warner Robins City Council unanimously adopted a resolution imposing a moratorium on accepting or issuing applications for retail liquor/package store licenses and for business licenses related to vape products, low-THC oil products, tobacco and cannabidiol products. The moratorium will remain in effect through June 2, 2026, unless the governing authority acts sooner.
Councilman Lashley sponsored the resolution and told colleagues the moratorium will give staff time to finalize code amendments and consider distance requirements, minimum lot sizes, road-frontage standards and overall saturation so the city does not create concentrated clusters of these establishments. “I make a motion to approve a resolution that a moratorium for the permitting of retail liquor package store licenses and business license related to the sale of vape products…shall be implemented as outlined here in,” Lashley said.
City staff and the city clerk supplied a count of existing licensed locations: the clerk said Warner Robins currently has 20 licensed liquor stores and 39 licensed vape stores (not counting vape sections inside convenience stores or other retailers). Council members described hearing repeated concerns from residents about the proliferation of vape shops and said the moratorium is intended to give staff time to develop an appropriate regulatory framework.
City Administrator James Drinkwood explained staff expects to bring draft ordinance amendments back to council within the moratorium timeframe; the amendments could reduce concentrations through distance rules, change minimum lot sizes or otherwise alter where such businesses may locate. Attorney Mize told the council staff must ensure any ordinance changes comply with state law.
The resolution passed by unanimous vote. According to council discussion, the moratorium is a temporary, regulatory pause to allow staff research and code drafting rather than a permanent prohibition.
