Oakdale adopts smoke-shop licensing and caps to curb youth access and concentrations of retailers

Oakdale City Council unanimously approved a new smoke-shop regulatory program aimed at reducing youth access to flavored nicotine products and limiting an apparent overconcentration of smoke shops on Oakdale's commercial corridors.

Lieutenant Stiefer and Oakdale Police Department staff told the council they found flavored nicotine pouches, flavored cartridges and some other products openly displayed at several local shops that state law prohibits. Staff proposed a multi-part program that requires a tobacco-retailer or smoke-shop license for each business location, establishes application and annual fees, creates inspection and compliance rules, and authorizes suspension or revocation of local licenses for violations.

Key provisions adopted in the meeting:

- Nonrefundable application fee: $500 (applied to first-year fee if approved).

- Annual permit fee: $1,100.

- Reinspection fee: $530.

- Licensing cap: no more than three active smoke-shop licenses citywide; current shops are grandfathered, and new licensure is attrition-based (a closed shop reduces the available slots until the total falls below three).

Lieutenant Stiefer said enforcement will include inspections, administrative citations for violators, and coordination with regional investigators experienced in shop-level compliance checks. He told the council he purchased flavored nicotine products from multiple local outlets during unannounced visits and said some items were openly displayed despite state restrictions.

Council members discussed whether the city should require tobacco licensing across all retail locations that sell nicotine products, including gas stations and liquor stores. Staff said liquor stores and convenience outlets are regulated under different state frameworks and that the smoke-shop license targets a retail category that historically has had less oversight.

The council voted 5-0 to adopt the ordinance language and fee schedule as presented. Staff said enforcement will begin immediately and that citations will be coordinated with state agencies where appropriate.

What comes next: Staff will implement the permit process, begin inspections of existing shops, and pursue enforcement where retailers sell illegal flavored products. Existing smoke shops maintain their current operations until they close or fail to meet licensing requirements.