Baltimore County Council approves new restrictions on smoke shops
The Baltimore County Council passed a new bill Tuesday that places zoning restrictions on smoke shops.
Council members unanimously approved the measure, which limits the number of smoke shops in the county and restricts where they can operate.
Leading up to the vote, council members made 13 amendments to the original bill.
One provision requires smoke shops to be at least 1,000 feet away from certain locations, including schools, daycare centers and health clinics.
The bill also places restrictions on how smoke shops can advertise, including limits on certain LED signs with flashing or rotating lights.
One of the 13 amendments gives businesses a hardship extension if owners are still locked into a lease.
Exceptions provided for some shops
The bill includes some exceptions for existing businesses. Shops operating at their current locations before Oct. 1, 2025, would be grandfathered in.
The measure does not apply to hookah or vape lounges.
Smoke shops that do not meet the new requirements would have one year to comply. All smoke shops would have 14 days to comply with the new signage restrictions, including the ban on flashing or rotating LED lights.
"We don't necessarily want to see a bill that has 13 amendments on it. But that's often how the sausage gets made," Baltimore County Council Chairman Mike Ertel said. "And when you do good work, especially on something that has a lot of different angles to it, I think ultimately this will be good legislation."
The bill now heads to Baltimore County Executive Katherine Klausmeier. If she takes no action, it will automatically become law.
Smoke shop owner pushes back against new restrictions
Nate Arieh, the owner of three TV Vapors locations in Baltimore County, disagrees with the new restrictions. He said the bill could put his businesses in a difficult position.
Arieh, who recently opened a new shop in Parkville, said the new location could be affected by the bill's restrictions on location and signage. His other two smoke shops would be considered to be grandfathered into the bill.
"We started this journey 13 years ago with the open mind of doing good for people and helping them quit smoking," Arieh said.
Arieh is particularly concerned about his newest store. Under the county's new definition, a smoke shop is a business that devotes more than 30% of its display area to tobacco-related products.
"Up until now, a convenience store could have had 49% of the square footage of the store tobacco-related," Arieh said.
He also said the Parkville shop is located relatively close to a school.
"We're not trying to put a whole industry out of business," Baltimore County Councilmember David Marks said. "We are trying to regulate and restrict them."
Ertel said county leaders have seen a concerning number of smoke shops open across the county.
"In the Towson area, we have eight of them within like five blocks," Ertel said.
Arieh said he understands the intention behind the bill but disagrees with the legislation in its final form. He said he is frustrated that businesses like his are being targeted by the new restrictions.
Smoke shop restrictions in Baltimore
in June, Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott signed a similar bill into law, which restricts smoke shops from operating within 750 feet of a park, school, or recreation center.
The bill was passed by the city council in May.
The bill states that smoke shops that are already open within the restrictions will have two years to close.
City data shows that there are at least 1,200 smoke shops in Baltimore, with the highest concentration in low-income areas.
"What we do not want is folks who are selling poison to our children and to our communities," Baltimore City Council President Zeke Cohen previously said.
