The Yellow Springs Village Council has unanimously approved an immediate 180-day moratorium on new smoke shops. Passed as an emergency ordinance on June 1, the freeze halts the issuance of all zoning permits, building permits, and certificates of occupancy for new tobacco and vape retailers.
Under the new ordinance, a “smoke shop” is defined as any retail establishment where 20% or more of the floor, shelf, or display area is dedicated to:
- Tobacco and nicotine products
- E-cigarettes and vapes
- Hemp-derived or synthetic cannabinoid products
The temporary ban does not affect the village’s six existing smoke shops. Instead, it gives newly appointed Planning and Zoning Administrator Nia Holt time to draft local regulations, such as establishing protective boundaries around schools and parks.
Local smoke shops have already faced severe economic headwinds this year. Ohio’s Senate Bill 56, which banned intoxicating hemp products in March, wiped out up to 70% of revenue for some local retailers, forcing storefront closures and shifts to alternative products like mushrooms.
Council members supported the pause to maintain business diversity and address concerns over youth-targeted marketing. “We know the vape industry has targeted young people,” noted Council Vice President Angie Hsu, emphasizing the community’s desire for stronger local protections to keep these products out of young hands.